Environmental biosecurity risk management in …...incursion of myrtle rust, a fungus that affects hundreds of native species such as eucalypts, was rapidly transitioned to management

Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia

Inspector-General of Biosecurity

REVIEW REPORT NO. 2018–19/04

Asian black-spined toad

Dutch elm diseaseXylella on grapevineTramp antsHuanglongbing (citrus greening)

ii Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia

© Commonwealth of Australia 2019

Ownership of intellectual property rights Unless otherwise noted, copyright (and any other intellectual property rights, if any) in this publication is owned by the Commonwealth of Australia (referred to as the Commonwealth).

Creative Commons licence All material in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence except for content supplied by third parties, logos and the Commonwealth Coat of Arms.

Inquiries about the licence and any use of this document should be emailed to [email protected].

Cataloguing data This publication (and any material sourced from it) should be attributed as: Inspector-General of Biosecurity 2019, Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Canberra, April. CC BY 4.0.

ISBN 978-1-76003-166-4

Internet This publication is available at igb.gov.au/Pages/completed-audits-and-reviews.aspx.

Contact Inspector-General of Biosecurity c/o Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Postal address PO Box 657 Mascot NSW 1460 Telephone +61 2 8334 7409 Email [email protected] Web igb.gov.au

The Australian Government acting through the Inspector-General of Biosecurity (IGB) has exercised due care and skill in preparing and compiling the information and data in this publication. Notwithstanding, the IGB and the Australian Government’s employees and advisers disclaim all liability, including liability for negligence and for any loss, damage, injury, expense or cost incurred by any person as a result of accessing, using or relying on any of the information or data in this publication to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Credits The source of data for all figures and tables is the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources unless otherwise noted.

Acknowledgements The IGB gratefully acknowledges cooperation and advice of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Department of the Environment and Energy and those individuals and organisations that provided a submission.

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

http://www.igb.gov.au/Pages/completed-audits-and-reviews.aspx

http://www.igb.gov.au/Pages/completed-audits-and-reviews.aspx

mailto:[email protected]

http://igb.gov.au

iiiEnvironmental biosecurity risk management in Australia iiiEnvironmental biosecurity risk management in Australia

Contents

Review process 1

Summary 3

Recommendations and departmental responses 7

1 Background 9

2 Regulation of environmental biosecurity 13

3 Evolving institutional arrangements 18

4 Responding to environmental pest and disease incursions 23

5 Prioritising environmental biosecurity threats 30

6 Surveillance and wider scientific and community engagement 39

Conclusion 51

Appendixes

A Agency response 52

B Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations 56

C Responses to IGAB review recommendations on environmental biosecurity 76

D Policy and legal frameworks for environmental biosecurity in Australia 80

E Governance arrangements 90

F Environmental biosecurity preparedness and response activities 91

G List of committees, forums and groups that support government management of environmental biosecurity 92

H Responses to NEBRA review recommendations 93

References 97

Boxes

1 The Live Import List was used to ban Savannah cat imports 34

2 Biosecurity guidelines for white nose syndrome in bats 35

3 Tassal flags biosecurity questions over oil rig in Hobart, Tasmania 37

Figures

1 The biosecurity continuum 10

2 Agriculture’s activities conducted across the biosecurity continuum 15

3 Exotic environmental detections from National Border Surveillance activities, 2017 to 2018 41

Contents

iv Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia

Tables

1 Emergency responses conducted under NEBRA 25

2 Emergency responses to exotic invasive ants, 2001 to 2018 27

3 National Border Surveillance detections of exotic environmental pests and diseases, 2017 to 2018 40

B1 Australian Government response to Senate inquiry recommendations and Agriculture actions to February 2019 57

B2 Australian Government response to Australian Greens recommendations and Agriculture actions to October 2018 73

C1 IGAB recommendations and Agriculture actions to February 2019 76

D1 International agreements on environmental biosecurity 80

D2 Intergovernmental agreements on environmental biosecurity 81

D3 National, state and territory legislation on environmental biosecurity 81

D4 National, state and territory strategies/plans/lists on environmental biosecurity 84

1Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia 1Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia

Review process

PurposeThe purpose of this review was to examine: • how the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (Agriculture) participates

in the broader biosecurity system to address environmental biosecurity concerns • processes to identify gaps in pathway and risk analyses and to improve

environmental biosecurity information gathering and sharing between jurisdictions.

ScopeThis review covered activities conducted by the Australian Government (particularly Agriculture) to help manage environmental biosecurity risks. These included: • governance and collaborative arrangements between Agriculture and state and

territory governments • how the Australian Government (particularly Agriculture)

– responded to previous reviews on environmental biosecurity – implemented the recommendations from these reviews – managed environmental biosecurity incursions

• how Agriculture helps manage environmental biosecurity risks by – identifying gaps in pathway and risk analyses, and – dealing with past incursions with major environmental impacts.

Out of scopeThis review did not examine in detail: • policies or activities that are the prime responsibility of the Department of the

Environment and Energy (Environment) • environmental biosecurity issues already covered in other Inspector-General

of Biosecurity (IGB) review reports, including the hitchhikers and contaminants review (IGB 2018).

Review process

2 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia

Potential risksPotential risks considered as part of this review included: • inadequacy and incorrect use of Agriculture’s methods to detect, identify and treat

threats to Australia’s environmental biosecurity • non-provision of appropriate and/or timely information to Agriculture by

stakeholders to allow it to carry out its responsibilities • non-provision of appropriate and/or timely information from Agriculture to

stakeholders to allow them to carry out their responsibilities • inadequacy of capacity and/or expertise to meet demands for environmental

biosecurity activities.

Review methodologyThe IGB: • reviewed relevant scientific literature, reports and departmental policies

and procedures • met with key stakeholders from agricultural and environmental sectors • circulated a discussion paper for public consultation • reviewed submissions from interested stakeholders • provided a draft report to Agriculture for response • published the report after consultation with the minister.

Review teamGlenn McMellon, Dr Naveen Bhatia and Clare Hamilton assisted the Inspector-General in this review.


Summary

1 BackgroundAustralia has well-developed systems for managing biosecurity risks that threaten agriculture and human health. To protect our environment and ecosystems from ever-increasing risks of pests and diseases entering and establishing in Australia, we need improved institutional and funding arrangements and more targeted programs with greater research and innovation.

Pests and diseases already introduced to Australia threaten the existence of some of our unique flora and fauna and have contributed to Australia’s unenviable rate of species extinction. Many introduced invasive animals, weeds and pathogens (such as chytrid fungus of frogs and myrtle rust of many plant species) have proliferated and spread slowly but inexorably into many parts of the country, destroying or threatening native species and ecosystems. The challenges of preventing further incursions and establishment will only increase with greater trade and travel.

Biosecurity is increasingly recognised as a shared responsibility between agricultural industries and government. This has led to agricultural industries having greater involvement in managing and co-funding biosecurity for their industries. However, similar arrangements to protect the environment from major biosecurity risks have lagged because of greater complexity in prioritising potential threats and quantifying the public good in funding responses to incursions.

In 2015 the report of a Senate Inquiry into Environmental Biosecurity made 26 recommendations to address shortfalls in Australia’s environmental biosecurity arrangements. An Australian Greens minority report made a further eight recommendations. In 2017 a review of the Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB) made further recommendations on environmental biosecurity and a review of the National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement (NEBRA) was also carried out.

2 Regulation of environmental biosecurityInternationally, the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) of the World Trade Organization accepts that a country may set an acceptable level of sanitary and phytosanitary protection (ALOP) by applying biosecurity risk management measures while minimising negative trade impacts. The United Nations (UN) Convention on Biological Diversity requires its 150 signatory countries (including Australia) to ‘as far as possible and as appropriate, prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species’.

Summary


The Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (Agriculture) has primary responsibility for implementing pre-border and border biosecurity measures. Agriculture works with state and territory governments through the National Biosecurity Committee (NBC) on post-border measures and programs. Industry peak bodies, such as Animal Health Australia and Plant Health Australia, and their levy funds share formal management and costs of key national agricultural, fisheries and forestry biosecurity programs. Animal Health Australia is the custodian of the Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement (EADRA) and AUSVETPLAN. Plant Health Australia is the custodian of the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD) and PLANTPLAN. These plans outline responses to agreed priority disease and pest incursions.

The Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy (Environment) works with state and territory governments on environmental protection and biodiversity conservation. Environment has specific biosecurity responsibilities for regulating the import of live animals and plants after considering their potential environmental impact. However, there are no equivalent ‘environmental industry’ peak bodies with access to levy funds, so management and cost-sharing of national environmental biosecurity programs are largely arranged through governments. NEBRA provides for responses to nationally significant environmental incidents where a combined response provides mainly public benefits.

In 2018 a national environmental biosecurity stocktake found that governments invested almost $1 billion in 2016–17 in activities with direct and indirect environmental biosecurity impacts.

3 Evolving institutional arrangementsThe 2015 Senate inquiry report made several recommendations about a greater role for Environment in managing environmental biosecurity. However, the Biosecurity Act 2015 (Cth) and the Australian Government response to the Senate inquiry clearly established Agriculture as the agency with primary responsibility for most aspects of federal biosecurity risk management. Many of the measures implemented by Agriculture protect Australia against environmental as well as agricultural pests and diseases. It is not practical or desirable to duplicate responsibilities.

In February 2018 the NBC replaced its Invasive Plants and Animals Committee with an Environment and Invasives Committee, with representatives from all government agricultural and environment agencies. The committee provides national policy leadership and technical and scientific advice on identifying, preventing and managing invasive species.

In late 2018 Agriculture appointed a Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer (CEBO) to negotiate and implement federal environmental biosecurity programs and communicate with Environment and the community.

Agriculture has committed to developing a memorandum of understanding with Environment outlining their respective roles and responsibilities in delivering environmental biosecurity. This should reduce the potential for gaps or duplication of services and improve stakeholder bodies’ understanding of each department’s role.

Summary

5Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia

4 Responding to environmental pest and disease incursions

Since 2013 responses to environmental pest and disease incursions have been managed according to the NEBRA. Most of the successful responses have been to exotic invasive tramp ant incursions. However, the most serious incursion of red imported fire ant (RIFA), which entered south-east Queensland about 20 years ago, is still not vanquished and is now under a 10-year eradication plan. Australian governments have spent or committed more than $800 million to fighting tramp ant incursions since 2001.

After detection, incursions are evaluated and many are found to be unfeasible or uneconomic to eradicate. In these cases they transition to management. The 2010 incursion of myrtle rust, a fungus that affects hundreds of native species such as eucalypts, was rapidly transitioned to management and has since spread from the NSW central coast across eastern Australia and to the Tiwi Islands, Norfolk Island and New Zealand. Some rare native Myrtaceae species are threatened with extinction. Seed collection and seedling rearing programs are being undertaken to avert this if possible.

5 Prioritising environmental biosecurity threats

The complexity of potential environmental biosecurity threats can seem overwhelming. Local and overseas experience can help us understand the potential impacts of new invasive animals and plants on native terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and impacts of new diseases and pests on vulnerable native fauna and flora and on social amenity of different communities. Pathway and risk analyses are needed to prioritise and effectively combat such threats.

Agriculture is leading development of a national environmental pest and disease priority list, which will help to focus future preparedness activities. An extensive stakeholder consultation process will be followed by expert analysis to develop the first such list by the end of 2019. The list will then need to be updated periodically.

6 Surveillanceandwiderscientificandcommunity engagement

Regular border biosecurity risk management activities prevent entry of a huge range of pests and diseases, but some inevitably get through and could establish if not found promptly.

Since 2016 Agriculture has implemented a national border surveillance program at first points of entry and approved arrangements. This program targets known hitchhiker pest and contaminant risks, many of which threaten the environment. From 2017 to 2018 the program detected 42 exotic pests and diseases of environmental concern.

The Northern Australian Quarantine Strategy (NAQS) also conducts surveillance across a wide zone of northern Australia and offshore in neighbouring countries. NAQS has a strong Indigenous ranger program using traditional knowledge to find threats to native ecosystems.

Summary


Post-border surveillance requires innovative approaches, high community awareness and engagement of all levels of government, as well as environmental non-government organisations and other groups. Ongoing research is also needed. Former Cooperative Research Centres for Invasive Animals and Australian Weeds Management were succeeded by a Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (CISS). CISS was funded for five years from 2017 to 2022 to research, develop and implement collaborative portfolios to improve knowledge and innovation in invasive species management. CISS’ environmental biosecurity projects include:· environmental DNA freshwater vertebrate research· a national incursions management framework· upgrading of PestSmart and FeralScan digital platforms· new tools for surveillance and eradication· invasive species gene drive technology.

7 ConclusionAustralia’s framework for managing environmental biosecurity challenges has improved considerably since the Senate inquiry was published in 2015. The respective roles of Agriculture and Environment in implementing pre-border and border biosecurity risk management measures are clearer. A memorandum of understanding between the two departments should further clarify this. Agriculture has appointed a Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer and now holds regular environmental biosecurity stakeholder forums for two-way communication about key issues and mechanisms to resolve them. The vast array of potential exotic pests, diseases, weeds and invasive animals that could damage Australia’s unique environment should be prioritised to ensure that the highest risks are targeted.Agriculture and Environment will need to engage with agricultural and environmental agencies in all jurisdictions, non-government organisations and communities to develop a greater acceptance of the shared responsibility for better biosecurity outcomes. The government should source a high level of scientific expertise and innovation, both nationally and internationally, to ensure that novel and more efficient solutions to new biosecurity threats can be rapidly developed and applied as needed.


Recommendations and departmental responses

The full departmental response to the recommendations is at Appendix A.

Recommendation 1

The department should include, in its forthcoming Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of the Environment and Energy, roles and processes for the two departments, to agree on desired environmental biosecurity outcomes at the Australian Government level, including performance reporting over time.

Department’s response: Agreed.

Recommendation 2

The department, working with the Department of the Environment and Energy and through the National Biosecurity Committee, should promote the development of Memoranda of Understanding on environmental biosecurity in all Australian jurisdictions.


Recommendation 3

The Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer, through the Environment and Invasives Committee, should work with jurisdictions and environmental groups to prepare an environmental biosecurity emergency preparedness plan (strategy), incorporating the exotic environmental pest and disease list once it has been determined.


Recommendations and departmental responses


Recommendation 4

The department should work with relevant environmental groups and agencies to develop and conduct environmental biosecurity emergency preparedness exercises.


Recommendation 5

The department should establish a dynamic and transparent environmental pest and disease risk prioritisation process, informed by new scientific knowledge, to allow emerging environmental pests and diseases to be added to the priority list as they arise. This list of priority environmental biosecurity pests and diseases, with the basis for their inclusion, should be published on the department’s website and continuously reviewed.


Recommendation 6

The department should ensure the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy program, and other surveillance programs, are coordinated with state and territory biosecurity surveillance activities and environmental biosecurity projects (as appropriate) to encourage collaborative resourcing and avoid possible duplication.


Recommendation 7

The department should work with relevant stakeholders to contribute to the development of environmental biosecurity plans targeting specific pests or diseases aimed at environmental sectors of concern, and include the community as much as possible.


Dr Helen Scott-Orr Inspector-General of Biosecurity 12 April 2019


Chapter 1

Background

1.1 DefiningenvironmentalbiosecurityEnvironmental biosecurity is the protection of the environment and/or social amenity from the risks and negative effects of pests and diseases entering, emerging, establishing or spreading in Australia. Pests include invasive vertebrate and invertebrate animals and invasive plants (weeds).

The environment includes Australia’s natural terrestrial, inland water and marine ecosystems, their unique flora and fauna, and Australia’s natural and physical resources. Social amenity includes the social, economic and cultural aspects of the environment, including tourism, human infrastructure, cultural assets and national image. Environmental biosecurity targets pests and diseases that threaten native plants, animals or ecosystems, or the social amenity of Australia’s diverse communities.

Agricultural biosecurity focuses on pests and diseases that may cause economic impacts on Australia’s agricultural, fisheries and forestry industries. The impacts can be from direct production losses, reduced market access and from the length of time and cost to recover. Exotic disease impacts are well documented from overseas outbreaks, such as foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom in 2001 (Scudamore & Harris 2002) and Xylella fastidiosa in Europe from 2013 (Strona, Carstens & Beck 2017). Potential entry pathways for priority agricultural pests and diseases are relatively well known and targeted by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (Agriculture) across the biosecurity continuum according to risk (Figure 1). In contrast, quantifying the potential impacts of pest and disease incursions on the environment is difficult. This makes developing preparedness and response plans more difficult.

Background


FiGURE 1 The biosecurity continuum

Prevention, preparation,screening, detection

Pre-border activities(overseas)

IMPORTS ANDEXPORTS

Anticipation, prevention,preparation

Detection, response, recovery or adaptation

Borderactivities

Post-border activities(in Australia)

EXOTIC PESTSAND DISEASES

ESTABLISHED PESTSAND DISEASES

The environment is considered to be owned by all Australians with no environmental industries equivalent to agricultural industries. Most environmental organisations are not-for-profit or voluntary. Relevant research organisations largely depend on government or community group funding. Indigenous and other community groups have special relationships with the environments in which they live and move through. Engagement with these groups can be complex.

A review of threats to Australia’s imperilled species (Kearney et al. 2018) found that:

Since European occupation of Australia, human activities have caused the dramatic decline and sometimes extinction of many of the continent’s unique species. Here we provide a comprehensive review of threats to species listed as threatened under Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Following accepted global categories of threat, we find that invasive species affect the largest number of listed species (1257 species, or 82% of all threatened species); ecosystem modifications (e.g. fire) (74% of listed species) and agricultural activity (57%) are also important.

Little information is available on the potential impact of many exotic pests and diseases on Australia’s native biota and natural ecosystems. The range and complexity of pests and diseases that may affect the environment far exceeds those of agricultural, fisheries and forestry industries. Quantifying the economic impacts of these pests and diseases, and the (mostly public) benefits of better environmental biosecurity outcomes can be difficult. However, Australia is aware of the continuing environmental impacts of past invasive pests and diseases, such as cane toads, carp, alligator weed and Phytophthora spp.

Management of environmental and agricultural biosecurity risks overlaps significantly, despite major differences in knowledge, impacts and economics. An ‘all-hazards’ approach—managing generic rather than specific biosecurity risks—is an appropriate risk management strategy.

Background


1.2 Environmental biosecurity reviewsSenate inquiry into environmental biosecurityIn 2015 the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee published Environmental biosecurity—an inquiry into the adequacy of arrangements to prevent the entry and establishment of invasive species likely to harm Australia’s natural environment (Senate Environment and Communication References Committee 2017). This was Australia’s first review dedicated to environmental biosecurity.

The Senate inquiry investigated the concept of environmental biosecurity, its treatment and performance within Australia’s current biosecurity system, and various proposals to strengthen environmental biosecurity in Australia. The inquiry included recommendations from previous reviews (Beale et al. 2008; Hawke 2009), the National Biosecurity Committee (NBC) and communications between the Australian Government and state and territory governments.

The inquiry concluded that employing a risk-based approach to prioritising incursion pathways was important, given the limited resources available to government agencies. The inquiry listed mail, cargo, the horticulture industry and the live animal trade as pathways and industries that posed significant threats to Australia’s environmental biosecurity.

The inquiry made 26 recommendations to address shortfalls in Australia’s environmental biosecurity. The Senate Committee report included the Australian Greens Minority Report as an annexure, making eight additional recommendations.

In June 2017 the Australian Government tabled its response to the Senate inquiry. The response supported (fully or in principle) 19 Senate recommendations and one Australian Greens recommendation, noted five recommendations, and did not support two Senate and seven Australian Greens recommendations. Agriculture considers that it has committed to all necessary recommendations and that any ‘not supported’ or ‘noted’ recommendations or recommendations directed at another agency do not require further action. Appendix B details the Australian Government’s response and Agriculture’s actions up to March 2019 against all of the Senate inquiry recommendations.

Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity ReviewThe Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB) is an agreement between the Australian Government and state and territory governments that came into effect in January 2012. Its purpose is to enhance Australia’s biosecurity system and strengthen the collaborative approach between the Australian Government and state and territory governments.

In 2017 an independent panel completed a review of the capacity of Australia’s biosecurity system and the IGAB. The review, Priorities for Australia’s Biosecurity System (IGAB review) made 42 recommendations, of which 10 directly or indirectly covered aspects of environmental biosecurity (Craik, Palmer & Sheldrake 2017).

The IGAB review found that, along with protection of Australia’s trade in tourism and agriculture, biosecurity helps to maintain Australia’s natural environments—valued by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2017 at over $6 trillion (Craik, Palmer & Sheldrake 2017). It highlighted that environmental biosecurity should be addressed to ensure Australia can minimise the risk of impact of pest animals, pest plants and diseases on the Australian environment, human health and the economy.

Background


The review also found that biosecurity stakeholders wanted a greater say in decision-making about biosecurity issues and stronger arrangements for environmental biosecurity. Community and environmental biosecurity was a focus during the course of the review, finding that incursions of exotic organisms were regular occurrences, but that pest and disease risks were yet to be established. The review recommended that environment agencies must be central to the development of biosecurity policy and response arrangements.

In November 2018 Australian agricultural ministers accepted all 42 recommendations from the IGAB review. Several recommendations that directly and indirectly relate to environmental biosecurity were already in the process of being implemented. Agriculture’s progress in implementing these recommendations is set out in Appendix C.


Chapter 2

Regulation of environmental biosecurity

2.1 International agreementsAustralia’s response to biosecurity issues is based on the requirements of the World Trade Organization Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement). The SPS Agreement defines the concept of an ‘appropriate level of sanitary and phytosanitary protection’ (ALOP) while minimising negative trade effects. Australia’s ALOP, agreed in 2002 with state and territory governments, is expressed as ‘providing a high level of sanitary and phytosanitary protection aimed at reducing risk to a very low level, but not zero’ (Agriculture and Environment 2014). Under the SPS agreement, management of trade to reduce risks of plant, animal and marine pests and diseases is guided by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (Biodiversity Convention) requires that the parties shall ‘as far as possible and as appropriate, prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species’.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is the world’s most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species. It uses a set of criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of thousands of species and subspecies. These criteria are relevant to all species and all regions of the world. With its strong scientific base, the IUCN Red List is recognised as the most authoritative guide to the status of biological diversity.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.



2.2 Australian legal frameworkManagement of Australia’s environmental biosecurity risks is legislated at the Commonwealth level under the Biosecurity Act 2015 (the Biosecurity Act) and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Similar division of legal responsibility occurs at state and territory level. States and territories have primary responsibility under the Australian Constitution for managing matters within their boundaries. A list of policy and legal frameworks for environmental biosecurity in Australia is at Appendix D.

The Biosecurity Act 2015 (Cth)The Biosecurity Act explains how we manage biosecurity threats to plant, animal and human heath in Australia and its external territories. The Act outlines how to determine the likelihood of a disease or pest entering or establishing itself in Australia and the potential for the disease or pest to cause harm to human, animal or plant health, or the environment, as well as the possible economic consequences. It is administered by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (Agriculture).

Sections 185 and 186 of the Biosecurity Act state ‘that a person commits an offence if the person imports a regulated live specimen’. What constitutes a regulated live specimen is determined under Section 303EB, which states that ‘the Environment Minister must establish a Live Import List. This must include two lists, one of unregulated species, and one of allowable regulated species’.

Under Section 443 of the Biosecurity Act, power is given to the Governor-General to declare a biosecurity emergency if the Agriculture Minister is satisfied that a disease or pest is threatening or causing nationally significant harm to the environment (among other criteria). However, ‘nationally significant’ is not defined.

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999The EPBC Act aims to promote protection of the environment, sustainable use of natural resources, the conservation of biodiversity, and assist in implementing Australia’s international environmental responsibilities. It is administered by the Department of the Environment and Energy (Environment).

The EPBC Act provides for identification of key processes that threaten the survival, abundance or evolutionary development of a native species or ecological community, and the development of threat abatement and recovery plans. Since the commencement of the EPBC Act, 21 key threatening processes have been listed, including 14 caused by invasive pest and pathogen species. This led to the approval of 14 threat abatement plans (or threat abatement advices) to identify research management and other actions needed to reduce the impacts of the key threatening processes.



2.3 Roles of Agriculture and Environment in delivering environmental biosecurity

Agriculture implements measures and undertakes activities that minimise the threat of pests and diseases along the biosecurity continuum—offshore, at the border and onshore (within Australia) (Figure 2). Agriculture has primary responsibility for implementing pre-border and border biosecurity measures. For post-border measure and programs, Agriculture works with state and territory governments via the National Biosecurity Committee (NBC), and with industry and community bodies.

FiGURE 2 Agriculture’s activities conducted across the biosecurity continuum

At the border Onshore

Department of Agriculture and Water Resources activities

Offshore

• Import risk assessments• Offshore verifications• Inspections• Audits• Collaboration with

international partners• Building regional capacity• Intelligence and surveillance

to assess potential biosecurity risks

• Import permit decisions• Screening and inspection of

vessels, passengers, cargoand mail

• Managing risks of live plantand animal imports

• Audits and post-entry quarantine

• Raising biosecurity awarenessof travellers, importers and industry operators

• Policy and program development

• Coordinating surveillance and diagnostic capability

• Preparing for and respondingto incursions

• Research contributions• Assisting landholders to manage

established pests and diseases

To ensure effective and appropriate management of Australia’s environmental biosecurity risk, Agriculture: • works collaboratively with Environment to develop and implement policies and

programs that protect and conserve the environment • conducts risks analyses, including import risk analyses, to ensure that goods and

people arriving in Australia do not pose an unacceptable biosecurity risk, including to Australia’s environment

• provides inspection and certification services to facilitate the safe movement of people, goods and conveyances in and out of Australia

• partners with state and territory governments, industry and communities to manage pest and disease outbreaks that threaten Australia’s environment.

Agriculture considers it difficult and undesirable to manage biosecurity risk to the environment separately to managing biosecurity risk to animal, plant and human health. This view is shared by Plant Health Australia and the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF).

Environmental biosecurity is not entirely distinct from agricultural biosecurity as there is significant overlap in pests that affect plants grown for agricultural purposes and those found in the natural environment or have social amenity in urban spaces. An example is Xylella fastidiosa and its vector the glassy-winged sharpshooter (Plant Health Australia submission).

The NFF is of the view that environmental biosecurity should not be considered in isolation but rather be seen in the context of the broader biosecurity framework (National Farmers’ Federation submission).



Despite the Senate inquiry recommending that Environment have a lead role in environmental biosecurity, the Australian Government response made it clear that Agriculture would be the lead agency as set out in the Biosecurity Act 2015.

Environment has specific responsibilities for regulating the import of live animals and plants, and works with states and territories to protect the environment and conserve biodiversity. Environment supports an integrated environmental biosecurity system led by Agriculture and supported by Environment’s expertise, responsibilities and legislative framework.

The import of live specimens such as animals and plants, seeds and biological control agents requires agreement between Agriculture and Environment. Only animals on the Live Import List are allowed; species not listed are prohibited. Each animal species is subject to a risk assessment by Environment of its potential environmental impacts. The Live Import List includes any live plant not included on the CITES list or a list of taxa prohibited due to their national invasive potential.

All new plant species, seeds, tissue culture or any other material for propagation are potential weeds. Agriculture uses the Australian Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) tool to assess applications for import of new plant and plant material. The WRA considers whether plant species have a high or low weed risk. However, the WRA allows the import of plants that are established weeds and are not on the Weeds of National significance list or under national control. This appears to contradict the definition of environmental biosecurity to reduce the risk of a pest spreading once established.

Biological control agents—organisms such as insects or pathogens that are used to control specific pests—are assessed by both departments. Only agents that are demonstrated to be target host-specific and where the potential consequences of off-target effects are assessed as meeting Australia’s acceptable level of protection, may be approved. Biological control agents are only deemed to be acceptably host specific if they do not successfully reproduce on any species other than the target. Risk analyses of weed biocontrol agents are released by the Plant Health Committee for inclusion of biocontrol agents on the Live Import List. A process for approving animal biological control targets and agents is being developed and should be followed once made available. The acceptance of biological control agents can take many years of research before approval is granted. Making a wrong decision can have very negative consequences for the environment, as was seen with cane toads (Bufo marinus).

2.4 National Biosecurity CommitteeThe Australian Government works with governments of all states and territories as well as with importers, producers and the community to manage biosecurity in a number of ways (Appendix E and Appendix F).

Most post-border government biosecurity work is progressed through the National Biosecurity Committee (NBC) and its various subcommittees and working groups. Established in July 2008 under the IGAB, NBC membership comprises senior officials from the Australian Government, and from state and territory primary industry and environment departments.



The NBC is responsible for managing a national, strategic approach to all biosecurity threats—terrestrial and aquatic plant and animal pests and diseases, and their impacts on agriculture, the environment, community wellbeing and social amenity—and implements the IGAB. It is supported by four sectoral committees with secretariats from Agriculture that provide policy, technical and scientific advice on matters affecting their sector: • Animal Health Committee • Plant Health Committee • Marine Pest Sectoral Committee • Environment and Invasives Committee.

The NBC recognises that some roles and responsibilities rest solely within a single jurisdiction and will be implemented when required, following relevant consultation.

2.5 National environmental biosecurity stocktake

In February 2017 the NBC agreed to undertake a stocktake on the environmental biosecurity activities currently being undertaken by the Australian and state and territory governments.

The stocktake was undertaken to: • develop a more comprehensive understanding of environmental biosecurity activities • identify gaps in management of environmental biosecurity • identify and prioritise future activities to improve management of environmental

biosecurity and better align and integrate it with the national biosecurity system.

Twenty-four Australian Government, state and territory government agencies contributed data to the stocktake. This included agencies with responsibility for primary industries such as agriculture and fisheries, the environment and biodiversity conservation, parks, heritage, water, natural resources, and planning and development.

The stocktake identified a complex array of committees, forums and groups that support management of environmental biosecurity (Appendix G).

The stocktake found that government agencies undertook 296 environmental biosecurity activities in 2016–17. A conservative estimate of government investment in these activities was approximately $954 million. Of this, about 19 per cent ($179 million) was for activities with a direct (identifiable and quantifiable) environmental biosecurity benefit. The remaining $775 million was for activities with a supporting benefit (not easily identifiable and quantifiable) for environmental biosecurity.

18 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia18 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia

Chapter 3

Evolving institutional arrangements

3.1 Strengthening Australian Government arrangements

3.1.1 ChiefEnvironmentalBiosecurityOfficerThe IGAB review recommended ‘The Australian Government should establish the senior, expert position of Chief Community and Environmental Biosecurity Officer within the environment department. A far less preferred alternative is to house the position in the agriculture department’ (Craik, Palmer & Sheldrake 2017).

In October 2018 Agriculture appointed Dr Ian Thompson as Australia’s inaugural Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer (CEBO). The CEBO is the primary representative and advisor to the Australian Government on Australia’s environmental biosecurity risks. He oversees the delivery of an $825,000 per year project fund to drive investment in building environmental biosecurity capability and capacity.

The key objectives of the CEBO are to: • enhance understanding and oversight of environmental biosecurity risks • perform a national policy, engagement and leadership role • ensure that Australia’s environmental and community biosecurity risks are better

defined and prioritised • improve the maturity of Australia’s environmental biosecurity preparedness,

surveillance and response capacity.

The appointment of the CEBO was well received by stakeholders submitting to this review.

The appointment of a Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer, albeit in the Agriculture portfolio, is a step forward. We urge the maximum possible leadership and support from the Commonwealth for a similar process at State and Territory level (Australian Network for Plant Conservation Inc. submission).

PHA acknowledges recent advancements in the management of environmental biosecurity including the appointment of the inaugural Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer, Ian Thompson within the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, with a strong policy link to Environment Department, and whom PHA looks forward to working closely with (Plant Health Australia submission).



The CEBO will develop a mission statement for future environmental biosecurity to provide a ‘vision for success’, as well as a State of Environmental Biosecurity Statement, which will assess the condition of environmental biosecurity. Agriculture, through the CEBO, should work with the Environment and Invasives Committee to develop a strategic plan for environmental biosecurity, analogous to those for weeds, invasive animals and marine pests.

3.1.2 Threatened Species CommissionerEnvironment’s Threatened Species Commissioner, established in 2014, provides a national focus to conservation efforts, especially of Australian native flora and fauna facing extinction. The commissioner works collaboratively with the national Threatened Species Scientific Committee, established under the EPBC Act, the community (including the non-profit sector), industry, scientists and all levels of government to find solutions to avoid the extinction of Australia’s native species. The Commissioner explicitly raises awareness of, and support for, threatened species in the community. The role includes building on, and instigating, initiatives and strategic approaches to threatened species conservation.

The Threatened Species Commissioner is responsible for the Threatened Species Strategy. The five-year strategy from 2015 to 2020 includes an action plan, setting out areas for the Australian Government to focus its efforts to help conserve threatened species.

The commissioner has a well-established social media presence, including on Facebook and Twitter, and regular direct engagement with the conservation community. The commissioner has offered to use these networks to assist the NBC, sectoral committees and the CEBO, and to promote education and awareness of environmental biosecurity issues.

3.1.3 Memorandum of understanding between Agriculture and Environment

Agriculture manages certain responsibilities under the Biosecurity Act through collaboration with other government agencies. In most cases this is through a formal arrangement such as a memorandum of understanding (MoU). The MoU sets out the representation, working relationship, expectations, responsibilities and duties of both departments at strategic, policy and operational levels. Agriculture has biosecurity MoUs with the Department of Defence, Department of Health and the Department of Home Affairs (Border Force).

The Senate inquiry, the IGAB and the NEBRA reviews all recognised that environmental biosecurity is as important as human health and agricultural biosecurity. Agriculture’s CEBO is developing an MoU with Environment about environmental biosecurity. This MoU should outline processes for the two departments to jointly agree on desired environmental biosecurity outcomes at the Australian Government level and report regularly on their performance effectiveness.

Outcome-focused measures could include indicators for prevention (for example, potential invasive species detected and stopped at the border or post-border) and eradication or control of key environmental pest incursions.



Recommendation 1

The department should include, in its forthcoming Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of the Environment and Energy, roles and processes for the two departments, to agree on desired environmental biosecurity outcomes at the Australian Government level, including performance reporting over time.

Department’s response: The department has been meeting regularly with officials from the Department of the Environment and Energy (DoEE) to discuss the development of a formalised arrangement on environmental biosecurity. The meetings to date have been productive and the department will continue to work with DoEE on developing shared biosecurity outcomes and further opportunities for collaboration including on improved data sharing, stakeholder engagement and environmental biosecurity preparedness.

To provide opportunities to improve environmental biosecurity communication and participation, the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage considers that the Australian Government should provide national coordination to help establish cross-jurisdictional and inter-jurisdictional communication platforms/mechanisms related to environmental biosecurity. This could be achieved by promoting the development of similar MoUs on environmental biosecurity between primary industries and environmental agencies in each state and territory.

Recommendation 2

The department, working with the Department of the Environment and Energy and through the National Biosecurity Committee, should promote the development of Memoranda of Understanding on environmental biosecurity in all Australian jurisdictions.

Department’s response: Department’s response: The department will promote the development of Memoranda of Understanding on environmental biosecurity through the National Biosecurity Committee, with input from the Department of the Environment and Energy, and relevant State and Territory representatives.

3.2 Strengthening inter-governmental arrangements under NBC

3.2.1 Past management of invasive animals and plantsLongstanding arrangements were in place under the NBC to manage pest animals through the Vertebrate Pest Committee and weeds through the Australian Weeds Committee, focussing on the impact of established invasive pests on agriculture and the environment. In 2014 the committees were combined into the Invasive Plants and Animals Committee (IPAC), which developed an Australian Pest Animal Strategy and an Australian Weeds Strategy, both from 2017–2027. However, there was growing awareness of the need for better management of other environmental pests and diseases that can affect native plants, wildlife and ecosystems.



3.2.2 Environment and Invasives CommitteeIn February 2018 the NBC replaced IPAC with the Environment and Invasives Committee (EIC). The EIC allows Agriculture to work with Environment and state and territory governments on environmental biosecurity issues. It provides national policy leadership and technical and scientific advice on the identification, prevention and management of invasive plant, freshwater, vertebrate and invertebrate species that adversely impact the environment, economy and community, unless they are within the scope of another NBC subcommittee.

Voting members comprises representatives from primary industry and environment departments of all governments, with observers from CSIRO, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Plant Health Australia, Animal Health Australia and Wildlife Health Australia. Stakeholders’ submissions to this review suggest that the membership of the EIC could be further extended.

The composition of the EIC, as currently constituted, lacks a perspective for harnessing Australian (and regional) environmental expertise and providing a wider window of access and communication to the scientific part of the environmental sector. There are no New Zealand or regional observers or representation by key scientific professional organisations such as the Ecological Society of Australia (ESA), Australian Mammal, Entomological, and Mycological Societies and Birds Australia, Council of Heads of Australian Faunal Collections (CHAFC), and the Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria (CHAH). ESA nominates one member of the NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee for extinction-risk listings (Australian Network for Plant Conservation submission).

OEH suggests that NBC (or other appropriate body/agency) continue to encourage jurisdictional representatives to liaise with their environmental agencies regarding the opportunities and benefits to providing environmental representation on EIC, such that EIC will include all jurisdictional environment agencies (even if only as corresponding members for information sharing purposes). Communication between primary industry and environment agencies in some jurisdictions is often limited. Direct communication and information sharing for environmental departments via representation on the EIC would assist in strengthening biosecurity communication (NSW Office of Environment and Heritage submission).

The EIC has formed a subgroup called the Environmental Biosecurity Advisory Group to provide advice to the EIC on national policy and effective stakeholder engagement in environmental biosecurity. The advisory group will be chaired by the Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer and consist of 11 non-government members with a national and strategic environmental and/or community outlook.

The NBC has referred its Environmental biosecurity stocktake to the EIC for consideration of next steps. This report is not publicly available.



Recommendation 3

The Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer, through the Environment and Invasives Committee, should work with jurisdictions and environmental groups to prepare an environmental biosecurity emergency preparedness plan (strategy), incorporating the exotic environmental pest and disease list once it has been determined.

Department’s response: The Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer will work with the Environment and Invasives Committee, Environmental Biosecurity Advisory Group and other relevant stakeholders to further develop and refine environmental biosecurity preparedness arrangements, including where appropriate, individual biosecurity plans for species or ecological communities. Work is currently underway to develop a biosecurity plan for acacia species and will be used as a pilot to develop future plans, informed by priorities identified in the National Priority List of Exotic Environmental Pests and Diseases.

3.2.3 Marine Pest Sectoral CommitteeFrom the 1990s Australia progressively strengthened its management of the risks of international shipping bringing marine pests into new ports and waters by ballast water or by biofouling. In 2011 the NBC formed a Marine Pest Sectoral Committee (MPSC) to develop and coordinate implementation of harmonised, national arrangements to identify, minimise and address the pest risk to Australia’s marine environment and associated industries. The committee plays an advocacy role within government to highlight the impact of marine pests on Australia’s marine environment and associated industries. The MPSC comprises two representatives from the Australian Government and one government representative from each state and the Northern Territory. Members are from the agency with responsibility for marine pest issues within each jurisdiction, but bring a whole-of-government position to MPSC discussions. New Zealand is a standing observer and another three observers are representatives based on technical/scientific expertise.

The MPSC developed MarinePestPlan 2018–2023, the national strategic plan for managing Australia’s marine pest biosecurity. Agriculture has worked with the MPSC to: • develop and use new technologies and methods for surveillance for marine invasive

species and diseases • apply evidence-based and data-based decision-making for risk assessments • focus on prevention and international consistency and application of requirements • contribute to international efforts to inform requirements under the

Ballast Water Management Convention • participate in meetings of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to

influence and develop international standards, and • use innovation and broad stakeholder involvement to solve complex marine

biosecurity problems.


Chapter 4

Responding to environmental pest and disease incursions

4.1 Planning and preparednessEmergency response preparedness and management plans and strategies are in place for priority pests of most agricultural industries. Formal management and cost-sharing of key national emergency response programs involve agricultural industry peak bodies and their levy funds via Animal Health Australia (AHA) and Plant Health Australia (PHA). AHA is the custodian of the Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement (EADRA) between 23 signatories, and AUSVETPLAN, which covers 66 animal diseases and pests. PHA is the custodian of the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD) between 47 signatories, and PLANTPLAN, which covers 82 plant pests and diseases. Many of the priority plant pests managed by PHA are pests of both agriculture and the environment, as are a number of avian and aquatic animal diseases managed through AHA.

There is provision under the EPPRD to manage pests which, if not eradicated, may result in major environmental damage to natural ecosystems, potentially affect human health or cause a nuisance to humans, or cause significant damage to amenity flora. For example, the response to the myrtle rust incursion into New South Wales in 2010 was managed through the EPPRD, until it was determined it was not technically feasible to eradicate the disease.

AHA and PHA support Australia’s preparedness for pest and disease incursions through biosecurity training and running live biosecurity emergency response simulation exercises. This helps stakeholders to actively analyse the risks posed by high priority pests and implement practices and procedures to rapidly detect and respond to an incursion, minimising potential impacts.

Agriculture prepares for its role in these exercises and other incident responses by: • developing internal response plans and arrangements • establishing resources and logistics • conducting training and education activities • designing, conducting and evaluating exercises • evaluating activities.

Exercises are usually specific to high priority agricultural diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease. AHA and PHA could include environmental biosecurity as part of the development of these biosecurity emergency response scenarios.



Recommendation 4

The department should work with relevant environmental groups and agencies to develop and conduct environmental biosecurity emergency preparedness exercises.

Department’s response: Work has begun on the development of a simulation exercise to test Australia’s capability to respond to the detection of an exotic disease in a non-production animal using the National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement (NEBRA). This work will be funded by the Environmental Biosecurity Project Fund and will test and identify potential gaps in our environmental biosecurity preparedness.

In October 2018 a National Biosecurity Emergency Preparedness Expert Group completed a Review of preparedness and response capability for environmental biosecurity incidents, finding that: • planning and plans for managing the response to environmental biosecurity

incidents are less mature than for the animal health and plant health sectors • many environmental emergency response plans rely on existing animal and

plant plans • adequate resources for training, preparation exercises, technical expertise and

operational response are not available • the range of environmental threats has not been fully identified • threat-specific plans have not been extensively developed within the

environmental biosecurity sector.

4.2 National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement

Unlike agricultural industries, the ‘environmental industry’ has no equivalent peak bodies with access to levy funds, so management of cost-shared national environmental biosecurity programs is arranged solely through governments. In 2012 the National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement (NEBRA) was set up under the Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity. It provides for responses to nationally significant environmental biosecurity incidents impacting the environment and/or social amenity, such as weeds, tramp ants and marine pests, where a combined response provides mainly public benefits. Half the cost is funded by the Australian Government with the other half shared among states and territories.

The NEBRA has officially been used for five cost-shared eradication responses, including three separate red imported fire ant (RIFA) incursions in Port Botany, Yarwun, and Brisbane airport; browsing ant in Darwin; and Macao paper wasps on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Table 1).



Fire ants were detected and eradicated twice at Yarwun (near Gladstone) Queensland—first between 2006 and 2010, and then again between 2013 and 2017, following successful surveillance, baiting and direct nest injection techniques. The second Yarwun incursion was the first eradication response to be managed under the NEBRA.

In November 2014 fire ants were detected at Port Botany in Sydney (just outside a stacked container area). An immediate 2 km surveillance zone was established over 366 hectares containing over 2,000 residential homes, businesses, other port facilities and playgrounds. Traps and odour detector dogs were used for surveillance and eradication declared in 2017.

In July 2015 browsing ants (Lepisiota frauenfeldi) were detected at Darwin seaport. In 2017 the NBMCC agreed that it was technically feasible and cost beneficial to eradicate browsing ants from Australia, through a coordinated baiting and spraying program. The first response plan (2015–16 to 2017–18) did not achieve eradication. The NT Government put forward a second plan from 2017–18 to 2021–22. In January 2018 the National Biosecurity Management Group (NBMG) committed $5.4 million to eradicate browsing ants from the Northern Territory by mid 2021 under the NEBRA. This agreement superseded the original response plan because browsing ants were detected on more properties in Darwin than initially budgeted for.

In September 2015 RIFA were detected at Brisbane Airport by a member of the public. The nest was destroyed and an emergency response initiated under the NEBRA. The NBMG hopes to be able to declare proof of freedom for this site in 2019.

In April 2015 the Macao paper wasp (Polistes olivaceus) was first detected on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. In 2016 a two-year eradication program conducted under the NEBRA began but encountered difficulties. The wasp could breed rapidly and colonise dense forest, becoming difficult to effectively locate, delimit, treat and contain, because many islands in the group are densely forested and challenging to access. In September 2018 the NBMG determined that the Macao paper wasp was no longer technically feasible to eradicate from Cocos (Keeling) Islands under the NEBRA. The WA Government conducted wind-down activities until the end of 2018. Ongoing management of the wasp will be led by the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities, which administers the islands.

TABLE 1 Emergency responses conducted under NEBRA

Species Location Year Status Cost

RIFA (Solenopsis invicta) Queensland, Yarwun 2013–2017 Eradicated 2017 $2,636,628

RIFA (Solenopsis invicta) New South Wales, Port Botany

2014–2017 Eradicated 2017 $998,751

Browsing ant (Lepisiota frauenfeldi)

Northern Territory, Darwin port

2015–16 to 2017–18 Lapsed response phase $1,100,000

Browsing ant (Lepisiota frauenfeldi)

Northern Territory, Darwin

2017–18 to 2021–22 Response phase $5,400,000

RIFA (Solenopsis invicta) Queensland, Brisbane Airport

2015–2018 NBMG to consider proof of freedom

$343,002

Macao paper wasp (Polistes olivaceus)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands 2016–2018 Transition to management

$193,000

RiFA Red imported fire ant. NBMG National Biosecurity Management Group.



In 2017 an independent review of the NEBRA, after five years of operation, made 16 recommendations (Appendix H) across five themes: • the need for greater involvement of environmental agencies and system

participants in the NEBRA activities • the need for an enhanced custodian role to allow for greater transparency around

the NEBRA activities • revising the approach to assess the national significance and cost benefit

of eradication • cost-sharing emergency containment activities under the NEBRA or

another mechanism • restructuring the NEBRA in line with the four phases of an emergency plant pest

response, detailed in the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed.

By February 2019 implementation of several recommendations was already completed or in progress (Appendix H). The Australian Government is working with other NEBRA signatories to respond to the review through the National Biosecurity Committee.

4.3 Incursion response case studies4.3.1 Exotic invasive ants—responses mostly successfulExotic invasive ants, also called tramp ants, are some of the world’s most invasive pests because of their devastating environmental, economic and social impacts. Since 2001 20 serious tramp ant incursions have occurred, including 16 incursions of RIFA (Table 2).

Between 2001 and 2017 Australian and state and territory governments, in a cost-shared response, spent more than $366 million to contain a RIFA incursion south-west of Brisbane. The fire ants may have entered in the 1990s and were widely established. In July 2017 Australian and state and territory agriculture ministers together committed a further $411.4 million over 10 years to the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program. When the $10.5 million for the NEBRA responses to ant incursions is added, Australia has spent or allocated more than $800 million for exotic invasive ant control since 2001.

The yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes) is listed as one of the top 100 worst invasive species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Global Invasive Species Database. First discovered in Cairns in 2001, the ants have been found at more than 20 sites in Queensland and in a large, scattered population in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. On Christmas Island, yellow crazy ants have killed millions of red land crabs and robber crabs, both of which play an important role in Christmas Island’s forest floor ecology.



In May 2018 a yellow crazy ant infestation was found in Lismore, New South Wales. A month later an additional infestation was discovered 30 km north of Lismore, at Terania Creek. Extensive community-based surveillance and eradication efforts led by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) are ongoing.

The NBC is developing the National Invasive Ant Biosecurity Plan 2018–2028. The plan, yet to be endorsed, provides a nationally agreed approach to enhance Australia’s capacity to manage the ongoing threat of invasive ants establishing in Australia, and the impacts caused by those species already established.

TABLE 2 Emergency responses to exotic invasive ants, 2001 to 2018

Year Location Pest Detection type Result

2001 to 2026–27

South-east Queensland RIFA Incursion Response phase

2001 Port of Brisbane RIFA Incursion Eradicated 2012

2001 Cairns Yellow crazy ant

Incursion Response phase

2004 Port of Brisbane RIFA Border breach Eradicated 2004

2006 Cairns Electric ant Incursion Transition to management

2006 Yarwun, Queensland RIFA Incursion Eradicated 2010

2006 Melbourne RIFA Interception Eradicated 2006

2007 Darwin RIFA Interception Eradicated 2007

2009 Lytton, Queensland RIFA Border breach Eradicated 2009

2009 Port of Brisbane RIFA Interception Eradicated 2009

2009 South Australia RIFA Interception Eradicated 2009

2013 Yarwun, Queensland RIFA Incursion Eradicated 2017

2011 Roma, Queensland RIFA Border breach Eradicated 2011

2011 Western Australia RIFA Interception Eradicated 2011

2014 Port of Brisbane RIFA Interception Eradicated 2014

2014 Port Botany, New South Wales

RIFA Incursion Eradicated 2017

2015 Melbourne RIFA Interception Eradicated 2015

2015 Darwin Port Browsing ant Incursion Response phase

2016–2018 Brisbane Airport RIFA Incursion Response phase

2018 Lismore, New South Wales

Yellow crazy ant

Incursion Response phase

RiFA Red imported fire ant.



4.3.2 Myrtle rust—too widespread to eradicateMyrtle rust, caused by the fungus Austropuccinia psidii, is a highly infectious disease that affects plants in the Myrtaceae species, such as eucalypts, willow myrtle, turpentine, bottlebrush, paperbark, tea tree and lilly pilly.

Myrtle rust was detected in April 2010 on the Central Coast of New South Wales. The sample was initially diagnosed as Uredo rangelii by the NSW DPI, which initiated an emergency response on 23 April 2010. The response was conducted under the EPPRD because the NEBRA did not come into effect until 2012.

On 27 April 2010 the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests (CCEPP) decided that more surveillance was needed to determine the extent of the spread of the rust. The CCEPP had representatives from Agriculture, state and territory primary industries’ agencies and representatives from affected parties. Notably, the forest industry was not a signatory of the EPPRD and not deemed to be an affected industry. The CCEPP also had no senior representatives from the environmental sector.

On 30 April 2010, one week after the emergency response began, the CCEPP determined that A. psidii was not technically feasible to eradicate and ceased the emergency response. NSW government agencies continued surveillance and containment activities with much reduced resources. This revealed good control on infected properties and limited spread from them.

On 2 July 2010 the CCEPP restarted the emergency response under the EPPRD, following pressure from Plant Health Australia, the Nursery and Garden Industry Australia and the Australasian Plant Pathology Society. This resulted in a substantial increase in resources directed to surveillance, tracing, quarantine and treatment.

On 28 October 2010 A. psidii was found in native vegetation, and following optimum environmental conditions, the spread of myrtle rust escalated. Surveillance increased to over 1,600 inspections on more than 1,300 properties. On 2 December 2010 the CCEPP determined that eradication was no longer feasible and stopped the emergency response. The recoverable cost of the EPPRD response was $3.5 million.

From 2011 to 2013 the Australian Government funded a $1.5 million transition to a management program. Myrtle rust has now spread into Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, the Tiwi Islands (Northern Territory), Norfolk Island, New Caledonia and New Zealand. Myrtle rust is not able to be directly managed other than by exclusion from unaffected areas.

Several criticisms of the myrtle rust emergency response (Carnegie & Pegg 2018) included: • the haste at which the original response was stopped • confusion around the correct taxonomy, which led to slow responses • poor use of published resources on response procedures • environmental threats not given sufficient weight in decision-making • inadequate resourcing.



Myrtle rust does not impact human or animal health, although loss of affected plant species will impact some animal species or ecosystem integrity. Some severely affected areas in south-east Queensland have lost their bird life—a devastating outcome.

A draft action plan was developed by the Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre for a coordinated response to myrtle rust research and on-ground actions (Makinson 2018) but had not been funded at the time this report was prepared.

Since the 2010 incursion one ‘pandemic’ strain of A. psidii has naturalised in Australia. Three-hundred-and-fifty-eight susceptible Australian native plant species in the Myrtaceae family have been identified, four species of which are approaching extinction as a result of myrtle rust disease. Botanical gardens are attempting to grow specimens of some of these threatened species. Lenwebbia sp, a small tree growing in high altitude rainforest in south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales, is likely to become the first myrtle rust-mediated extinction in Australia. Further strains in South America, Central America and South Africa could severely impact eucalypt species.

This myrtle rust incursion demonstrates the extreme difficulty in dealing with a pathogen of such a wide range of native species.


Chapter 5

Prioritising environmental biosecurity threats

5.1 Environmental pest and disease priority listThe complexity of potential environmental biosecurity threats can seem overwhelming. Local and overseas experience can help us understand the potential impacts of new invasive animals and plants on native terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, the impacts of new diseases and pests on vulnerable native fauna and flora, and the impacts on social amenity of different communities. Some pests may attack immediately vulnerable biota but also potentially cause cascading ecological effects. Extended pathway and risk analyses are needed to prioritise and effectively combat such threats.

Prioritising biosecurity threats is important to ensure that contingency arrangements for the highest risks can be put in place. A longstanding national Emergency Animal Disease list, a more recently developed National Priority Plant Pest list and a draft Australian Priority Marine Pest List allow disease-specific and pest-specific contingency plans, enabling prompt and appropriate risk management.

In 2011 the Vertebrate Pest Committee and the Australian Weeds Committee collaborated to produce a National Categorisation System for Invasive Species, which was endorsed by the NBC. This defined criteria for different categories of invasive species: • Category 1—National surveillance—the taxon is not known to be in Australia and

poses a potential ‘significant national threat’ to the environment and ecosystems; to people, including human infrastructure and social amenity; or to business activity.

• Category 2—National eradication—the taxon is currently a nationally agreed, cost-shared target or has satisfied the NEBRA criteria for eradication.

• Category3—Establishedinvasivespeciesofnationalsignificance—the taxon is already an established pest or weed of national significance or has potential to become one, is already present, deemed ineradicable and requires nationally coordinated management.

• Category 4—National restriction on keeping, sale and trade—the taxon is nationally agreed as requiring these restrictions in every state and territory and has consistent national border restrictions for international recognition of its official control.



In July 2017 Agriculture, through the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), began developing a national priority list of exotic environmental pests. The EIC agreed to sponsor the list, which includes: • weeds and freshwater algae • vertebrate pests • marine pests • aquatic animal disease • animal disease • plant pathogens • terrestrial invertebrates • freshwater invertebrates.

The list is intended to help with: • identifying pests, weeds and diseases that are likely to cause nationally important

negative impacts on Australia’s environment and social amenity • informing more efficient and effective targeting of activities and resources towards

these environmental pests, weeds and diseases, which may include developing preparedness and response plans and guiding surveillance and detection activities

• raising government, industry and community awareness of, and engagement with, these environmental pests, weeds and diseases.

To begin developing the priority list, Agriculture hosted two stakeholder workshops. The first, in March 2018, was attended by Environment, all Australian jurisdictions, the NZ Ministry for Primary Industries, CSIRO, the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (CISS), the Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis (CEBRA), Wildlife Health Australia and Animal Health Australia (AHA). At the workshop, participants agreed to the vision and purpose of the list and the methodology to be used—a modified semi-quantitative delphi approach.

The second workshop was held in June 2018. This was attended by representatives from the first workshop as well as Wildlife Disease Association Australia, Plant Health Australia, researchers from universities and museums throughout Australia, and environmental consultants from private organisations. They tested the methodology for use in an expert elicitation process.

Using this agreed process, experts will assess candidate species for the priority list until March 2019. In April 2019 a targeted consultation process with NBC sectoral committees will begin. The CEBO will coordinate an open public consultation in mid 2019, and aims to publish the final list on Agriculture’s website by the end of 2019, following endorsement by the EIC and the NBC.

We strongly support ABARES but are unclear what level of consultation will be applied. Agriculture should set a response period for public consultation to account for acute staff shortages in many environmental organisations (including many of the agencies as well as NGOs). A longer rather than shorter consultation period is advised (Australian Network for Plant Conservation submission).



ABARES should provide the data that have been used to assess the priority list during the public consultation phase. Sharing these data will assist the deliberations of many small environmental and community groups who may wish to have input into the process.

The IGAB review recommended that the national priority lists be reviewed every five years (Craik, Palmer & Sheldrake 2017). However, once established, developing a dynamic priority risk process to allow emerging environmental pests and diseases to be added will be more important. The Environmental Pest and Disease Priority list should also be subject to regular review, with opportunity for input from scientists and environmental and community groups.

Setting of national priority lists can have inadvertent perverse outcomes, for example the Weeds of National Significance (WONS) list had desirable effects in concentrating investment in control, but arguably led to under-investment in more localised environmental problem species which have since grown such as Ox-eye Daisy. (Australian Network for Plant Conservation submission)

Recommendation 5

The department should establish a dynamic and transparent environmental pest and disease risk prioritisation process, informed by new scientific knowledge, to allow emerging environmental pests and diseases to be added to the priority list as they arise. This list of priority environmental biosecurity pests and diseases, with the basis for their inclusion, should be published on the department’s website and continuously reviewed.

Department’s response: The department is working with ABARES to prepare and finalise the National Priority List of Exotic Environmental Pests and Diseases. Once the process is complete and each of the sectoral committees (Environment and Invasives Committee, Animal Health Committee, Marine Pests Sectoral Committee, Plant Health Committee) have been consulted on the list, the department will engage stakeholders and ensure thorough consultation on the draft list. Following consultation, the list and final report will go to the Environment and Invasives Committee and the National Biosecurity Committee for endorsement.

The priority list, along with the basis for pest & disease inclusion, will be published on the department’s website. The Environmental Biosecurity Office and Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer will play a key role in using the data from the list to develop policies that guide priority areas of work in environmental biosecurity. The list will be routinely reviewed every five years, with the first review to occur in three years. The review will include revision of the purpose, use, criteria and methodology. Provision will also be made for ad-hoc amendments to the list, which will allow for the timely addition or removal of a species to ensure that the list remains up-to-date. This process will be coordinated through the Environment and Invasives Committee, in consultation with the relevant sectoral committees.



5.2 Gaps in pathway and risk analysisA great deal of effort has gone into conducting comprehensive pathway and risk analyses for agricultural pests and diseases in an attempt to underpin import conditions and pre-border, border and post-border controls to manage their risks. However, significant knowledge gaps for non-commodity risks and pathways of environmental threats remain. The pathways for different classes of environmental pests should be considered.

5.2.1 Hitchhiker pestsA recent review of hitchhiker pest and contaminant biosecurity risk management in Australia (IGB 2018) revealed how Agriculture is managing the risks of external and internal contamination of vessels and aircraft, sea and air containers and other cargo. The review highlighted environmental and agricultural hitchhiker pests such as exotic invasive ants, exotic bees and bee mites such as Varroa destructor, pests of many plant species such as brown marmorated stink bugs and giant African snails, and forestry pests such as Asian gypsy moth and burnt pine longicorn beetles.

The review found that challenges posed to Australia by hitchhiker pests and contaminants are increasing, due to greater global trade and movement of people, pests, and diseases around the world. Other countries may not prioritise preventative measures as much as Australia and New Zealand, since certain pests may be endemic there or not pose the same level of risk.

It concluded that, although Agriculture’s efforts to manage the risks of hitchhiker and contaminant entry by many pathways, notably ships, aircraft and air cargo, are impressive, the more difficult and complex tasks of preventing hitchhikers and contaminants from entering on or in sea cargo are not easy to manage. The greatest and least mitigated risk is from external and internal contamination of sea containers.

Finding external contamination with soil, insects, snails and seeds depends largely on onerous and under-resourced manual inspection processes that need innovative automation to become more efficient. Risks are likely to increase with the greater emphasis on rail shipment of containers out of ports to intermodal hubs and beyond. Disturbed verges of rail tracks provide ideal habitat for red imported fire ants and other tramp ants and exotic pests that can fall off the base of containers with soil. The review recommended automatic washing facilities for sea containers be built into port rail entry points. However, little progress has been made on this recommendation, so external sea container biosecurity risks remain unmitigated.

5.2.2 Invasive animalsThe environmental and agricultural damage done by established invasive animals such as rabbits, foxes, rats and mice, wild dogs, feral cats and feral pigs is well known and requires ongoing control. Other large animals such as camels, deer, goats and brumbies are also emerging or periodic environmental pests, but control of these can be more emotive. Preventing new, potentially invasive animals entering is a high priority. Pathways include legal or illegal importation of unusual pets, imports of ornamental fish with invasive potential, and illegal smuggling of exotic reptiles and birds (either as adults or eggs).



Illegal smuggling of live animals is often detected by standard border protection methods. On 13 December 2018 biosecurity officers detected two live squirrels being smuggled on a flight from Bali, Indonesia (Agriculture 2018). However, not all illegal imports are detected at the border. In July 2018 biosecurity and environment officers raided a house in Canberra and seized hundreds of exotic ant species (Brown 2017). Officials were alerted by several concerned members of the public after the owner had attempted to sell them online.

Environment’s classification of animals for the Live Import List is a key means of preventing new invasive animal species entering and establishing, provided their invasive potential is recognised (Box 1).

Box 1 The Live Import List was used to ban Savannah cat imports

A Savannah cat is a cross between a domestic cat and a serval—a medium-sized, large-eared wild African cat. This unusual cross became popular among US cat breeders at the end of the 1990s, and in 2001 was accepted as a new registered breed. Savannahs are larger than domestic cats and can leap up to 2.5 m high from a standing position. By 2008 pet dealers were applying to import Savannah cats into Australia. Australian wildlife scientists and the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre realised their potential to escape from captivity and breed with feral cats, creating a ‘supercat’ that could exterminate even more native marsupials. Australia did not need a more efficient feral cat. In August 2008 the Environment Minister changed the definition of ‘domestic cat’ on the Live Import List to rule out cats with serval genes.

Exotic hybrid pets, including wolf-dogs and other hybrid cat breeds, continue to be developed and Environment is considering how best to address the risk that hybrid animals may pose to Australia's environment.

5.2.3 Wildlife and plant diseasesAnimal and plant diseases may be carried into Australia by the import of animals or plants carrying them or on the clothing and footwear of people who have been in contact overseas with host species for the various pathogens. Recognition of specialised pathways is essential to target community advice to potential risk creators.

For example, the risk of white nose syndrome in bats being spread by hikers or cavers identified that specialised and targeted biosecurity guidelines were needed to manage the risks of this pathway (Box 2).



Box 2 Biosecurity guidelines for white nose syndrome in bats

White nose syndrome (WNS) is an emerging disease caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, which affects hibernating bats. First identified in New York in 2006, it has caused the deaths of more than 5 million cave-hibernating bats across North America. The fungus that causes WNS can spread between caves by surviving on clothing, footwear and caving gear.

Australia is free of WNS but the movement of cavers, researchers, karst managers, tourists (and their equipment) between affected caves in China, Europe and North America and caves in Australia is one pathway that the disease-causing fungus could enter Australia. Agriculture recognises the risks that international cavers visiting Australia may introduce WNS and has provided some guidelines including:

• do not bring into Australia any clothing, footwear and caving gear that has been used in other countries

• contact Australian caving groups to ask about loan gear

• if you must bring personal gear comply with published cleaning protocols to decontaminate gear before and after field trips.

5.2.4 InvasivefishInvasive fish such as carp, mosquito fish and tilapia have tremendous environmental impacts, crowding out native species and destroying many habitats. A massive and controversial biocontrol program for carp is under consideration, while an intense surveillance program is attempting to detect and prevent tilapia from extending its range from south-eastern Queensland rivers into the Murray–Darling Basin.

Thirty-four exotic freshwater fish species have already established in Australia—22 from ornamental/aquarium releases, eight from acclimatisation, two from ballast water, one aquaculture species (carp) and one failed biocontrol (gambusia) (Lintermans 2004). Two of these species, brown trout (Salmo trutta) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), are considered a valuable recreational fishing resource and are actively restocked (government funded) in Australian waterways despite being on the IUCN list of the world’s most invasive alien species.

5.2.5 Aquatic animal diseasesAquatic animal diseases may be imported on ornamental fish. For example, species of iridovirus that cause infectious spleen and kidney necrotic disease in gourami have been shown to be able to spread in water and cause severe disease in Australian native fish species such as golden perch. In March 2016 Agriculture implemented new pre-export iridovirus-free certification requirements for imported freshwater ornamental fish that belong to the gourami, cichlid and poeciliid groups. However, this is only a small section of the more than 5,000 species of fish in the global aquarium trade, many of which are poorly known or difficult to identify as fingerlings and have poorly-defined disease-carrying potential.



In August 2017 Agriculture and Environment worked with the aquarium industry to close down the illegal trade of Cajun dwarf crayfish (Cambarellus shufeldtii)—a known carrier of crayfish plague, an exotic disease that has had catastrophic effects on endangered native crayfish populations in other countries. Environment officers removed more than 45 specimens from several homes across New South Wales and Victoria.

Disease incursions can rapidly move from aquaculture facilities into nearby aquatic environments where they may establish. This was shown by the 2016–17 outbreak of white spot disease in prawn farms near the Logan River, Queensland, and its subsequent detection in Moreton Bay. Environmental surveillance of various wild crustaceans will be needed until at least two years of negative results, after which movement controls on prawns, crabs and bloodworms from Moreton Bay and nearby waterways may be lifted.

5.2.6 Invasive marine pestsInvasive marine pests may be carried into Australian waters and ports by shipping, particularly in ballast water and as biofouling on ships’ hulls.

Ballast water management to international standards has been oversighted more effectively by Agriculture since the introduction of the Maritime Arrivals Reporting System in 2016, as detailed in the IGB’s Hitchhiker report (IGB 2018).

Biofouling is a significant pathway for the introduction and spread of environmental marine pests and diseases. The 2015 Senate inquiry and a 2015 review of national marine pest biosecurity recommended that the Australian Government develop regulations to reduce the biosecurity risks associated with biofouling (Agriculture 2015).

In 2018 the NZ Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) implemented a Craft Risk Management Standard (CRMS) for vessel biofouling. The CRMS requires all vessels entering New Zealand to manage biosecurity risks associated with biofouling by: • cleaning the hull vessel less than 30 days before or within 24 hours of arrival

(long stay) • applying MPI-approved treatment and continual maintenance (short stay).

Agriculture is developing a biofouling policy for public consultation in mid 2019 and, if approved, implementation over five years. The policy will be based on IMO 2011 guidelines for the control and management of ships’ biofouling to minimise the transfer of invasive aquatic species. These guidelines are based on pathway controls (ship hull designs and ports visited) rather than species specific threats (IMO 2012).

Technological innovation does not wait for Australian Government policy to be developed. In August 2018 a Norwegian company began using underwater hull-cleaning technology in the Port of Townsville, Queensland. HullWiper uses adjustable seawater jets on a remotely operated vehicle to clean the hull and collect the filtered waste for onshore disposal. Vessels are cleaned while they are unloading cargo. Expansion of these operations into major ports of entry would greatly reduce the environmental biosecurity risk associated with biofouling.

Research to validate molecular techniques to survey ships’ ballast water and ports for priority marine pests has commenced. In mid 2017 Agriculture began monitoring key Australian ports including Brisbane, Devonport, Gladstone, Gove, Hay Point, Hobart, Melbourne and Weipa.



Box 3 Tassal flags biosecurity questions over oil rig in Hobart, Tasmania

Tasmanian salmon aquaculture company (Tassal) raised biosecurity concerns about an oil rig that was anchored in Hobart. In 2017 the oil rig Ocean Monarch travelled from Singapore to Western Australia and onto Bass Strait. In November 2018 the oil rig was towed into the River Derwent, Hobart for maintenance and minor repairs. On 12 December 2018, following discussions from Tassal, the Tasmanian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) issued an Environmental Protection Notice to the Diamond Offshore General Company. The notice was based on concerns the activity of the oil rig may cause serious or material environmental harm or environmental nuisance.

The EPA was concerned that the vessel had an invasive marine pest, the white colonial sea squirt (Didemnum perlucidum), attached to its hull because the sea squirt was introduced into Western Australia in 2010.

The Ocean Monarch was not inspected before being allowed into Tasmanian waters and the owners of the vessel resisted requests for a hull inspection. The EPA considered its legal options in being able to undertake an inspection without the vessel owner’s approval. The Diamond Offshore company agreed to an inspection and provided a report to the EPA. The report found that the oil rig was unlikely to pose a risk to the Derwent. Questions have since been raised about the decision to allow the company to self-assess.

5.2.7 Invasive plants (weeds)Weeds are recognised to have caused enormous environmental damage in Australia. The potential for many exotic plants to become major weeds if introduced is profound. Twenty established Weeds of National Significance (WONS) were listed by Australian governments in 1999 and a further 12 added in 2012, due to their invasiveness, potential for spread and the environmental damage they caused. Limited national action is undertaken to address potential weed biosecurity risks/pathways via the horticultural and nursery industries, with the exception of pre-border weed risk assessment.

Agriculture sets conditions for seeds and live plants that are imported to be grown in Australia. These conditions protect Australia from the risk of introducing exotic weeds and diseases that could harm our environment and economy. All import conditions for seeds are detailed in Agriculture’s Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON).

Import conditions vary depending on the genus and species of the plant or seed, and on other factors including country of export. A person wanting to import a species that is not listed on BICON can complete and submit a New Plant Introduction form. The information provided on the form is used by Agriculture to conduct a weed risk assessment of the species, after which Agriculture may choose to develop import conditions for the new species.



Environment maintains a Weeds in Australia website, which contains databases of plants or plant material prohibited from import into Australia. Agriculture consults this information when conducting weed risk assessments (WRAs).

As part of the WRA, if a weed species is already present in Australia but is not listed as noxious and is not under ‘official control’, it cannot be prohibited entry under Australia’s international obligations, regardless of whether it is considered a weed in other situations. This seems to contradict the basis of environmental biosecurity to ‘protect the environment and/or social amenity from the risks and negative effects of pests and diseases entering or spreading in Australia’.

5.2.8 Wildlife diseasesWildlife Health Victoria are concerned about the spread of animal diseases from domestic and feral animals to wildlife.

There is increasing evidence that many infections of introduced domestic and feral animals have spread to wildlife, are impacting environmental biosecurity and biodiversity, and have created wildlife reservoirs of infections that may spill back to domestic animals and into humans. Consideration needs to be given to preventing and managing the establishment of these diseases. These may include: sheep and cattle Johne’s disease (Mycobacterium paratuberculosis) into macropods, sheep and cattle Chlamydia pecorum into koalas, free range poultry/turkey/duck Avian Cholera (Pasteurella multocida) into waterbirds, cat toxoplasmosis into marsupials, dog and fox hydatids into marsupials, dog and fox mange Sarcoptes scabiei mites into wombats (Wildlife Health Victoria submission).


Chapter 6

Surveillance and wider scientific and community engagement

6.1 Australian Government border surveillance programs

Agriculture conducts several biosecurity surveillance programs focusing on its specific border and pre-border areas of authority. It also provides coordination and funding for a larger number of wider surveillance programs that are implemented in collaboration with state and territory governments and relevant industry, scientific and community groups.

6.1.1 National Border Surveillance programIn November 2016 Agriculture began a National Border Surveillance (NBS) program by sampling, recording and identifying insect and plant species around first points of entry (international airports and seaports) and approved arrangements (industry-run facilities where imported goods and conveyances are first received and unpacked). The NBS is delivered by Agriculture’s Operational Science Services group and forms part of the biosecurity continuum by managing the risk of incursions of pests and diseases on high risk pathways at or near the border. Environmental pests such as tramp ants are a key target of this surveillance.

From 2017 to 2018 the NBS detected 42 pests and diseases of environmental concern. Most of these were snails (23.8 per cent) and ants (16.6 per cent) found at approved arrangements (66 per cent) (Table 3). Victoria accounted for the most detections (35 per cent) followed by Queensland (28.6 per cent) (Figure 3).



TABLE 3 National Border Surveillance detections of exotic environmental pests and diseases, 2017 to 2018

Date Location Common name Scientific name Site External notification

Proposed action

May 17 Darwin Ludwigia begomovirus Begomovirus sp. AA No No action

Jun 17 Melbourne Citrus canker Xanthomonas citri AA Yes Treatment

Jul 17 Brisbane Monomorium tramp ant Monomorium dichroum Wharf Yes Treatment

Jul 17 Darwin Begomovirus plant virus Begomovirus sp. AA Yes Investigation

Aug 17 Melbourne Tramp ant Hypoponera eduardi AA Yes Surveillance

Sep 17 Perth Giant African snail Lissachatina fulica Wharf Yes Surveillance

Aug 17 Brisbane Alluaud’s little yellow ant Plagiolepis alluaudii Port Yes No action

Nov 17 Brisbane Monomorium tramp ant Monomorium dichroum Port Yes Treatment

Dec 17 Melbourne Chocolate-banded snail Massylaea vermiculata AA Yes Surveillance

Jan 18 Melbourne Snail Monacha ocellata AA Yes Surveillance

Jan 18 Melbourne Snail Xerotricha conspurcata AA Yes Surveillance

Jan 18 Melbourne Snail Laeocathaica sp. AA No Surveillance

Feb 18 Perth Buckthorn potato aphid Aphis nasturtii AA Yes Surveillance

Feb 18 Brisbane Red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta AA Yes DNA test for origin

Feb 18 Brisbane Red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta AA Yes DNA test for origin

Feb 18 Brisbane Ashy gray lady beetle Olla v-nigrum Wharf Yes Surveillance

Feb 18 Melbourne Rotund disc snail Discus rotundatus AA Yes Surveillance

Mar 18 Melbourne Minute cypress scale Carulaspis minima AA No No action

Mar 18 Perth Concentric leaf spot Phyllosticta concentrica AA Yes Surveillance

Mar 18 Perth Browsing ant Lepisiota frauenfeldi RAAF Yes Surveillance

Apr 18 Melbourne European firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus AA Yes Surveillance

Apr 18 Melbourne European firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus AA Yes Surveillance

Apr 18 Brisbane Monomorium tramp ant Monomorium dichroum Wharf No No action

May 18 Brisbane Keyhole wasp Pachodynerus nasidens Port No No action

May18 Brisbane Monomorium tramp ant Monomorium dichroum AA Yes No action

May 18 Darwin False powderpost beetle Dinoderis papuanus Wharf Yes Surveillance

Jun 18 Brisbane Red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta AA Yes DNA test for origin

Jun 18 Brisbane Keyhole wasp Pachodynerus nasidens Port Yes No action

Jun 18 Adelaide Snail Xerotricha conspurcata AA Yes No action

Jun 18 Melbourne European firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus AA Yes No action

Jul 18 Darwin Pygmy borer Ernocladius sp. Wharf Yes No action

Jul 18 Sydney Ptinid beetle Ozognathus cornutus AA Yes No action

Jul 18 Perth Myrmicine ant Tetramorium caldarium RAAF Yes No action

Aug 18 Melbourne Snail Xerotricha conspurcata AA Yes No action

continued ...



FiGURE 3 Exotic environmental detections from National Border Surveillance activities, 2017 to 2018

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

SANTNSWWAQldVic.

6.1.2 Northern Australia Quarantine StrategyThe Torres Strait is on a major international shipping route between Northern Australia and Asia. Pathways that could bring in pests or disease include itinerant yachts, dinghies, onshore winds and tides (including major storms or cyclones), migrating birds and 27,000 human movements, some with animals, between the Torres Strait Islands, Papua New Guinea and northern Queensland every year.

In 1989 the Australian Government established the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS). NAQS provides an early warning system for exotic pest, weed and disease detections across Northern Australia and its near neighbours. The program initially received funding for two years’ operation from the Queensland, Western Australian and Northern Territory governments until it became an Australian Government responsibility in 2000.

TABLE 3 National Border Surveillance detections of exotic environmental pests and diseases, 2017 to 2018

Date Location Common name Scientific name Site External notification

Proposed action

Aug 18 Adelaide Snail Caracollina lenticulata AA Yes Surveillance

Sep 18 Adelaide Snail Xerotricha conspurcata AA Yes Surveillance

Sep 18 Sydney Snail Xerotricha conspurcata Other Yes Surveillance

Oct 18 Brisbane Powdery mildew of sowthistle

Golovinomyces sonchicola AA Yes Surveillance

Oct 18 Sydney Snail Xerotricha conspurcata AA Yes Surveillance

Oct 18 Sydney Grove snail Cepaea nemoralis Wharf Yes Treatment

Nov 18 Brisbane Anthracnose of Liriope Colletotrichum liriopes AA Yes No action

Nov 18 Melbourne Seed-bearing soursob Oxalis pes caprae AA Yes SurveillanceAA Approved arrangements. RAAF Royal Australian Air Force.

continued



The role of NAQS is to: • manage the biosecurity aspects of border movements through the Torres Strait • identify and evaluate the unique biosecurity risks facing Northern Australia • develop and implement measures for early detection of targeted pests and diseases • contribute to collaborative surveillance and capacity building in

neighbouring countries.

NAQS covers almost 10,000 km of coastline from Broome in Western Australia to Cairns in Queensland, and includes the Torres Strait Islands. The distance from Saibai Island, Torres Strait to Papua New Guinea is only 3.6 km. In 2018 NAQS had 117 staff, including specialist scientists, community liaison officers, rangers and project officers. Twenty-nine per cent of NAQS staff were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

NAQS targets more than 100 insect species, 50 plant diseases and 40 weed species and conducts an average of 18 plant early detection surveys/activities each year. It also monitors animal health through sampling sentinel cattle and pig herds for a range of animal diseases and monitoring of biting midge vectors for arboviruses. NAQS annually diagnoses 2,500 animal samples, 500 plant pathology samples, 400 botany samples, thousands of observational weed/host records and 2,500 trap insect trap clearances (more than 500,000 specimens). NAQS detects and notifies authorities about five nationally significant pests, diseases or weeds each year.

The Senate Environmental Biosecurity Inquiry Committee recommended that Agriculture review and update NAQS by mid 2016 and that this review examine the adequacy of resources available to implement the strategy and suggest changes to improve environmental biosecurity outcomes under the strategy. The Australian Government responded that it had committed more than $60 million to surveillance practice and technologies in Northern Australia and an additional $12.4 million in funding for Indigenous Ranger groups between 2015–16 and 2018–19.

NAQS considers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partnerships critical for successful outcomes. Under the Indigenous Ranger Program, Agriculture has contracted 68 Indigenous Ranger groups across northern Australia to undertake fee-for-service biosecurity monitoring activities on Country, and invested more than $1.8 million in training and equipment to build on the existing capability of rangers. More than 100 rangers have been provided emergency response training and each of the ranger groups are invited to represent their community at the annual Biosecurity Ranger Forum. Agriculture also collaborated with the Queensland Government to pilot the Biosecurity Indigenous Traineeship, with four trainees completing the 18-month traineeship in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area. Three of the trainees have subsequently obtained biosecurity related employment.

In 2018 a review of the Indigenous Ranger Program found that the program was contributing to safeguarding Australia’s animal and plant health, but that improvements could be made in its next phase. Additionally, the program has provided direct and indirect benefits to communities by unlocking significant and new employment opportunities.



Agriculture is also a key partner developing the Torres Strait–Northern Peninsula Area Biosecurity Strategy with a range of local stakeholders. The strategy was developed in recognition of the need to protect the unique environment of the Torres Strait and the Northern Peninsula Area of Cape York from biosecurity risks. Agriculture has also been a key partner in collaborating to improve telecommunication in the area, resulting in increased 4G coverage and upgraded inter-island links. The investment has resulted in improved communications between biosecurity officers in the Torres Strait and better management of biosecurity risks. It has provided better outcomes in the provision of services such as health, education and economic development, as well as in the social wellbeing of the residents through being more connected to each other.

Agriculture has also continued to invest in a range of tools, data collection initiatives and collaborative measures supporting improved biosecurity surveillance and regulation approaches across the Torres Strait. This work has streamlined the work of biosecurity officers working across the Torres Strait and Indigenous Rangers undertaking biosecurity activities on a fee-for-service basis across the north.

This review commends Agriculture’s effort in developing the Indigenous Ranger Program and considers it should work with Top End governments to expand biosecurity surveillance and compliance activities to facilitate early detection and management of biosecurity threats.

Recommendation 6

The department should ensure the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy program, and other surveillance programs, are coordinated with state and territory biosecurity surveillance activities and environmental biosecurity projects (as appropriate) to encourage collaborative resourcing and avoid possible duplication.

Department’s response: The department is currently implementing several initiatives that will improve the national surveillance system. These include better coordination of departmental, state and territory and industry biosecurity activities, and capacity building in near neighbour countries to ensure Australia’s biosecurity risk is managed effectively and collaboratively. Surveillance activities across Australia are overseen by the National Biosecurity Committee and its subcommittees, which include input by representatives from all jurisdictions, industry and non-government organisations. The Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer will work with the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS) program, Biosecurity Plant Division, Biosecurity Animal Division and the states and territories to ensure that environmental biosecurity priorities are included in both surveillance activities and projects.

The department supported the establishment of Wildlife Health Australia (WHA) in 2013 (from the former Australian Wildlife Health Network) to facilitate coordination and collaboration of wildlife health surveillance and other activities across different levels of government and with non-government organisations and community groups. The organisation is now co-funded by the Commonwealth and state and territory governments and chaired by the inaugural Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer. The department (including NAQS) participates in WHA programs, as do the states and territories, zoos, wildlife hospitals, universities and private veterinary clinics. Other environmental biosecurity surveillance activities are coordinated through the Animal Health Committee and Animal Health Australia.



6.2 Wider post-border research, development and extension

The natural environment is complex. Submissions to this review have suggested some knowledge gaps that could be filled with research and communication. For example, the Australian Network for Plant Conservation believe improving communication across scientific expertise fields relating to invasive species such as species-level and ecosystem-level researchers could provide major benefits for the environmental biosecurity effort. These lie outside the current consultative processes of the biosecurity apparatus and are beyond reach for the current level of engagement.

Wildlife Health Australia also believes that improving education and knowledge of diseases with wildlife as part of their ecology that may impact on Australia’s environment and biosecurity will help to prepare for and respond to these risks.

Environment noted that surveillance for new invasive species may be conducted by Parks Australia staff as part of ongoing reserve management practices, such as myrtle rust surveillance at Booderee National Park, Jervis Bay.

Formal arrangements with zoos, universities and botanical gardens should be developed to improve the environmental biosecurity knowledge gaps associated with native animals, including birds, invertebrates and reptiles.

Funding has emerged as a key issue for many environmental biosecurity issues needing further research and innovative approaches.

Agriculture and Environment have not aligned processes for allocating funding under their natural resource management (NRM) programs. The Grant Connect website provides information on all federal grants but it does not include NRM as a category, so it is difficult to find collated information on existing grants. This would be a desirable improvement to the system.

Stocktake of general surveillanceIn late 2018 the ABARES Social Sciences team (part of Agriculture) initiated a stocktake of biosecurity general surveillance programs in primary production and natural resource management across Australia and New Zealand. General surveillance is defined as ‘all pests, weeds and/or diseases surveillance activities that have elements of opportunism or flexibility’ and includes passive surveillance (‘fortuitous finds’), citizen science and industry or community-based surveillance initiatives. General surveillance initiatives typically involve considerable contributions from industry, private businesses, community groups or the general public.

The stocktake formed part of an ABARES project seeking to develop a set of guidelines for designing sustainable and effective general surveillance programs, to understand the state of play of general surveillance in Australia and New Zealand and to facilitate cross-program learning.

Similarly to the project for prioritising national environmental pests and diseases, this stocktake should be conducted in a transparent and dynamic manner.

In 2018 the Agriculture Senior Officials Committee agreed to a protocol for information sharing and a national trusted network to allow real-time sharing of sensitive interception data and intelligence. Agriculture is coordinating the development of a national data platform and data analytics, which will support data sharing. An interim data platform has been developed to enable data sharing.



Information about illegal imports such as exotic wildlife seizures could be shared through this platform. However, the bulk of environmental biosecurity pests are more likely to enter inadvertently. Maximum transparency and timely data sharing between governments and with community stakeholders is preferable to secrecy in dealing with these risks.

6.2.1 Invasive Species CouncilThe Invasive Species Council (ISC) was formed in 2002 to advocate for stronger laws, policies and programs to keep Australian biodiversity safe from weeds, feral animals, exotic pathogens and other invaders.

In January 2017 the ISC and Monash University School of Biological Sciences, with support from the Ian Potter Foundation, began an environmental biosecurity risks and pathways project. The two-and-a-half-year project is to develop a national priority list of potential insect and plant disease invaders that could harm the natural environment and identify their likely pathways of arrival and impacts.

The project will establish a best practice method for identifying priorities that can be applied to other groups of organisms and create an open-source database that will allow for regular updates. The first stage of the project will address insects. The work will extend to plant pathogens pending the result of additional grant applications. ISC work is funded by donations from supporters and philanthropic organisations.

6.2.2 Centre for Invasive Species SolutionsThe Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (CISS) succeeded the Cooperative Research Centres for Invasive Animals and Australian Weeds Management. CISS was funded for five years from 2017 to 2022 to develop research, development and extension (RD&E) projects to enhance invasive species management strategies among landholders and land managers. In 2017–18, the first year of CISS operation, key achievements were: • agreement to portfolio research project funding by the Member/Industry Review

Panel in September 2017, with total committed funds amounting to $11.4 million • cash investment by Agriculture of $3,350,000 in 2017–18, leveraging an additional

$2,757,000 in other contributions • the proportional investment of other contributors set to significantly increase

in 2018–19 • refinement of all 21 portfolio projects to point of execution or to final draft stage • mobilisation of more than 100 RD&E specialists across the project portfolio to

strengthen collaboration within and between projects • preparation and release of a public consultation draft of a 10-year Investment Plan

for Weeds RD&E, and a national workshop in May 2018 • development of a draft National Incursion Management Framework for

Invasive Species • Australia’s largest single collaboration of researchers working on deer projects

across agricultural and environmental landscapes • successful oversight leading to the development and delivery of a new Certificate III

Rural and Environmental Pest Management course • high PestSmart website usage, which received 449,527 page views from

171,514 users. Associated PestSmart social media pages have more than 5,900 followers and posts reached an estimated 2.2 million followers.



In 2018 the EIC tasked CISS with coordinating development of the National Environment and Community Biosecurity Research, Development and Extension Strategy 2016–20. Funding to support CISS in this important role over the next two years was agreed in 2018. However, by February 2019 funding had still not been allocated for the implementation phase expected from July 2019.

In March 2019 CISS received an Australian Government biosecurity award for its role in coordinating the release, monitoring and evaluation of a rabbit biocontrol agent. RHDV1 K5, a Korean strain of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus, was released across 323 community sites within Australia in March 2017.

6.2.3 Plant Health AustraliaPlant Health Australia (PHA) considers that environmental biosecurity is not entirely distinct from agricultural biosecurity. There is a significant overlap in pests that affect plants grown for agricultural purposes, those found in the natural environment and those for social amenity in urban spaces.

In their submission, PHA highlighted several key organisations that have the focus, drive and capacity to work on environmental biosecurity, such as PHA, research and development corporations, universities and local governments.

Nationally coordinated surveillance programs, supported by an effective diagnostic network, are needed to maximise the effectiveness and efficiency of detection of exotic pests. For example: • the International Plant Sentinel Network facilitates collaboration around the world,

linking botanic gardens and arboreta, national plant protection organisations and plant scientists

• the National Forest Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy, established by PHA, mitigates the risk of exotic forest pests establishing in Australia, and provides evidence to support claims of area freedom.

The Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative is a partnership between PHA, seven plant research and development corporations and Agriculture. It was established to minimise damaging consequences of established and exotic pests, diseases and weeds that affect Australian plant industries, the community and the environment. It has established a set of priorities that will guide the partners in funding biosecurity RD&E.

6.2.4 Australian Plant Biosecurity Science FoundationThe Australian Plant Biosecurity Science Foundation (APBSF) was established in July 2018 as a not-for-profit charity to follow the Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre (CRC). Its intent is to support plant biosecurity research, development, extension and capacity building. APBSF is particularly focused on cross-sectoral issues not well covered by other funding mechanisms, such as environmental plant biosecurity.



6.2.5 Wildlife Health AustraliaWildlife Health Australia (WHA) is the coordinating body for wildlife health in Australia. It undertakes research of, investigates and monitors wildlife diseases in Australia. WHA has a strong One Health focus with activities that link the environment, animal health and public health sectors. It coordinates a network including state/territory agriculture and environment departments, zoos, university veterinary schools and science departments, and sentinel veterinary practices. Additionally, universities have major capacity and expertise to contribute to surveillance and early disease detection and to help develop solutions for managing wildlife diseases.

Wildlife biosecurity information and response sources differ from production sources and need separate support. Current frameworks exist that can help but there is a gap in support for surveillance and preparedness for exotic wildlife diseases that could impact on environment and social amenity, rather than market access.

The value of obtaining and using overseas intelligence to assist in identifying risks and gaps should be recognised. Agriculture has encouraged WHA to produce regular digests and enter a new role with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Working Group on Wildlife.

In its submission, WHA commended the role of Agriculture in setting up and maintaining the biosecurity system. However, it noted that biosecurity animal health focuses primarily on agriculturally significant diseases and needs to bring environment into the system, by: • developing a system to support wildlife diseases and biodiversity/social

amenity impacts • contingency planning for potential high risk diseases with wildlife as a part of

their ecology • furthering education and knowledge of diseases with wildlife as part of their

ecology to prepare for and respond to these risks.

WHA questioned whether connections between the Agriculture and Environment departments are sufficient to take advantage of the work that Agriculture has led. WHA’s view is that the good work of Agriculture can only be fully realised in the wildlife space if Environment properly identifies and funds priority work. WHA also believes that the CEBO, Agriculture and members of the NBC and EIC need significantly greater levels of resourcing to address the increasing risks.



6.3 Environmental stakeholder and community engagement

6.3.1 Environmental biosecurity roundtableIn October 2016 Agriculture, in collaboration with Environment, established an environmental biosecurity roundtable to discuss environmental biosecurity issues with key stakeholders, identify potential solutions to shape future actions and share information on initiatives. This is part of a program of biosecurity roundtables and a National Biosecurity Forum.

Two roundtables were held in 2018, the first in Canberra on 3 May (attended by 68 people) and the second in Brisbane on 9 October (attended by 72 people). The forums provided updates of activities from government departments and industry covering issues such as the National Biosecurity Statement, biosecurity information sources, introductions to the Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer and Threatened Species Commissioner, and future stakeholder engagement.

A survey taken at the Canberra roundtable highlighted some issues: • the need for outcomes-focused engagement opportunities for environmental

biosecurity stakeholders and improving accessibility (for example, through webinars or live streaming)

• the importance of ongoing funding and research into social and behavioural economics to better target biosecurity promotion and compliance activities

• the need to better engage Indigenous stakeholders in environmental biosecurity.

The establishment of the environmental roundtable has been well received by stakeholders to this review, with hopes for better engagement with the environmental sector.

The establishment of environmental round tables, in which PHA has participated, that provide an opportunity for stakeholders such as industries and local communities to come together to discuss environmental biosecurity matters and share ideas (Plant Health Australia submission).

We strongly support regional and national environmental biosecurity roundtable series launched in 2016, and we note the steady growth in attendance at these events…and acknowledge that in many respects the environment sector owes a great debt to Agriculture technical staff. The ANPC strongly support the continuance of these forums, alongside more formal strengthening of interchange between DAWR and the environment sector (Australian Network for Plant Conservation submission).

There needs to be a greater level of awareness, engagement, and resource allocation from and within the environment agencies in all jurisdictions, and the Natural resource management sector at large, than has been the case to date. Fostering the transfer of knowledge and expertise from the agricultural sector to the environmental sector is critical (Australian Network for Plant Conservation submission).

The department should, through the roundtable process, develop a policy on engaging the environmental sector in more depth in biosecurity processes and develop options for collaboration (Invasive Species Council, pers. comm., 12 July 2018).



6.3.2 Raising community awareness and engagementRaising awareness and engaging the local community on specific environmental biosecurity issues across Australia can be difficult. Action is needed at many levels and should be sustained or targeted depending on the issue.

In 2018 Agriculture created a ‘Biosecurity matters’ community website to increase community awareness of biosecurity. It provided information on how to be ‘biosecurity aware’ of your responsibilities while engaging in activities such as recreational fishing, bushwalking, online shopping and gardening. The webpage also introduces a character called Jeff, who, through some short animated videos, demonstrated how his careless biosecurity actions can have detrimental impacts on the environment.

While the ‘Biosecurity Matters’ web page is a good start in raising awareness of biosecurity issues amongst the broader community, it unfortunately targets individuals that are already aware of biosecurity issues and are searching for further information. A much more sustained, whole of community approach is needed nationally, to wake the Australian community up to their role in monitoring and reporting incursions of unwanted pests, diseases and weeds. There needs to be effective measurement of community understanding on biosecurity, captured on a regular basis (National Farmers’ Federation submission).

The National Farmers’ Federation also believe that community education targeted to identifying and reporting regionally specific weeds and pests would assist in raising awareness in communities of biosecurity issues in their area. For example, agricultural field days and local community shows could be used to showcase pests, weeds and diseases and provide information if incursions are detected.

Landcare is one community-based approach that has played a major role in raising awareness, influencing farming and land management practices and delivering environmental outcomes across Australia. Local group involvement has been the catalyst for voluntary community engagement, understanding and action in the development and adoption of sustainable land management practices and the acknowledgement of our shared responsibility for conserving biodiversity.

The environmental focus of the Landcare approach evolved to incorporate a strong social aspect. Communities have understood the benefits of joint action to analyse and solve local problems, including many that are beyond the capacity of individuals to solve. An environmental biosecurity criterion could be included in a wide range of Landcare grants for industry and community groups to help strengthen the link between Landcare and biosecurity.

The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage suggested that the Australian Government could also support or participate in projects that directly address nationally significant environmental biosecurity issues. For example, ‘Plant Sure’ is a project working with the horticultural industry to reduce or remove the use of ornamental plants that pose an environmental weed risk.



Wildlife Health Victoria believes that during a disease emergency involving wildlife populations, stakeholders are critical in providing information about the species affected, where, when, what clinical signs, mortality rate, and access to and provision of dead wildlife for diagnosis and sampling.

Wildlife Health Australia considers it vital that Australia can show that it is free of exotic diseases and disease agents that can affect or be carried by wildlife and feral animals that can jeopardise our trade and market access. Providing further emphasis and integration of the environment into arrangements as a complementary activity is needed. This could be improved with the establishment of wildlife disease surveillance networks.

6.3.3 Local environmental biosecurity plansAgricultural agencies work with many farm industry bodies to develop on-farm biosecurity plans aimed at keeping farms safe from pests and diseases. Plans or community biosecurity guidelines can be developed for emerging environmental diseases, as shown by the guidelines for prevention of white nose syndrome in bats (Box 2).

Similar plans or guidelines could be developed for other individual sectors of the environment and community. Plans could address such issues as cleaning of camping equipment and transport when moving between national parks and the possible introduction of aquatic diseases by improper disposal of bait. The plans could give greater recourse to citizen science approaches and better resourcing and use of community groups.

Recommendation 7

The department should work with relevant stakeholders to contribute to the development of environmental biosecurity plans targeting specific pests or diseases aimed at environmental sectors of concern, and include the community as much as possible.

Department’s response: A priority for the Environmental Biosecurity Project Fund in 2018–19 and beyond is the development of environmental biosecurity plans for priority species and ecological communities. Work is currently underway to revise a biosecurity plan for acacia species and to develop a plan for mangroves and associated communities. The Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer will also work with stakeholders to help guide the direction and scope of future plans, ensuring that consultation is a key consideration in their development.


Conclusion

Since the Senate inquiry handed down its report in 2015 Australian Government has made considerable progress in tackling the complex task of delivering better environmental biosecurity risk management.

The Senate inquiry proposed that the Australian Government Environment department, rather than Agriculture, become the lead agency for environmental biosecurity, with commensurate responsibilities and resourcing. However, the Biosecurity Act 2015 clearly ascribed the bulk of responsibilities and legal powers to Agriculture. Several specific areas were delegated to Environment, which also has biosecurity-related responsibilities under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Formalisation of the roles and responsibilities of the two departments through an MoU should improve understanding and acceptance of the interdependence of the two agencies in delivering environmental biosecurity.

Similarly, in response to the IGAB and the NEBRA reviews, the National Biosecurity Committee has taken steps to provide a greater focus on environmental biosecurity, adapting the structures and processes used for animal and plant biosecurity management to deliver an all-hazards approach with special features suited to particular environmental issues. It is hoped that this can provide a model for stronger cooperation on biosecurity between agricultural and environmental agencies at the state and territory level in different jurisdictions.

Stakeholder communication and engagement on environmental biosecurity is challenging. Australia has a huge variety of native animals, plants and ecosystems, all of which have different organisations and communities involved with them, and an even greater complexity of environmental biosecurity threats which beset them. Environmental biosecurity roundtables and inclusive threat prioritisation processes can contribute enormously to a shared community understanding of priority targets and ways to combat them.

At a broader level, ongoing engagement with the wider national and international scientific research community is needed, to find more innovative ways to identify and deal with environmental biosecurity threats.

The Australian Government, through both Agriculture and Environment, will need to play an ever-increasing part in the national and international efforts to safeguard our unique environment as biosecurity threats increase.


Appendix A

Agency response

Agency response


Agency response


Agency response



Appendix B

Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations

In May 2015 the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee released a report on Environmental biosecurity. In June 2017 the Australian Government responded to recommendations in the report and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (Agriculture) initiated actions in response.

https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Communications/biosecurity/Report



TAB

LE B

1 A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t res

pons

e to

Sen

ate

inqu

iry

reco

mm

enda

tions

and

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

to F

ebru

ary

2019

Sena

te in

quir

y re

com

men

dati

ons

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent

resp

onse

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

Rec

omm

enda

tion

1:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at, o

nce

esta

blis

hed,

the

Insp

ecto

r-G

ener

al o

f Bi

osec

urity

con

duct

a s

yste

mat

ic re

view

of

how

effe

ctiv

ely

high

-ris

k en

viro

nmen

tal

bios

ecur

ity c

once

rns

are

addr

esse

d w

ithin

the

broa

der b

iose

curi

ty s

yste

m,

with

a p

artic

ular

focu

s on

iden

tifyi

ng

gaps

in p

athw

ay a

nd r

isk

anal

yses

and

on

impr

ovin

g in

form

atio

n ga

ther

ing

and

shar

ing

betw

een

juris

dict

ions

.

Supp

orte

d in

pri

ncip

le

The

Insp

ecto

r-G

ener

al o

f Bio

secu

rity

may

revi

ew th

e pe

rfor

man

ce o

f fun

ctio

ns, o

r exe

rcis

e of

pow

ers,

by

bios

ecur

ity

offici

als

unde

r one

or m

ore

prov

isio

ns o

f the

Bio

secu

rity

Act 2

015.

As

such

, the

Insp

ecto

r-G

ener

al o

f Bio

secu

rity

may

un

dert

ake

revi

ews

of e

nviro

nmen

tal b

iose

curi

ty u

nder

thei

r pow

ers

pres

crib

ed u

nder

the

Act

. The

Dep

artm

ent o

f A

gric

ultu

re a

nd W

ater

Res

ourc

es w

ill b

ring

the

com

mitt

ee’s

reco

mm

enda

tion

to th

e at

tent

ion

of th

e In

spec

tor-

Gen

eral

.

Info

rmed

the

Insp

ecto

r-G

ener

al o

f Bio

secu

rity

.

Rec

omm

enda

tion

2:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at th

e Co

mm

onw

ealth

Gov

ernm

ent w

ork

with

sta

te a

nd te

rrito

ry g

over

nmen

ts

to re

vise

the

Nat

iona

l Env

ironm

enta

l Bi

osec

urity

Res

pons

e A

gree

men

t suc

h th

at

disa

gree

men

t by

a si

ngle

par

ty n

eed

not

prev

ent a

resp

onse

und

er th

e ag

reem

ent

from

goi

ng a

head

.

Not

sup

port

ed

Cons

ensu

s de

cisi

on-m

akin

g in

em

erge

ncy

resp

onse

s re

mai

ns a

cor

e te

net u

nder

pinn

ing

the

part

ners

hip

appr

oach

to

deci

sion

-mak

ing

prom

oted

by

the

Nat

iona

l Env

ironm

enta

l Bio

secu

rity

Res

pons

e A

gree

men

t (N

EBR

A),

othe

r em

erge

ncy

resp

onse

dee

ds a

nd th

e IG

AB

. Whi

le u

nder

the

curr

ent c

onse

nsus

app

roac

h to

the

NEB

RA

ther

e is

a p

ossi

bilit

y th

at a

si

ngle

par

ty c

ould

vot

e do

wn

a re

spon

se, t

he N

EBR

A d

oes

not p

reve

nt th

e re

mai

ning

sup

port

ing

part

ies

from

reac

hing

ag

reem

ent o

n a

cost

-sha

red

erad

icat

ion

resp

onse

.

The

Aus

tral

ian,

sta

te a

nd te

rrito

ry g

over

nmen

ts re

cent

ly c

omm

issi

oned

the

first

five

-yea

rly re

view

of t

he N

EBR

A, w

hich

is

bei

ng u

nder

take

n by

an

exte

rnal

third

par

ty (K

PMG

). Th

e N

BC w

ill c

onsi

der a

ny re

com

men

datio

ns fo

r im

prov

emen

t fo

llow

ing

the

final

isat

ion

of th

e re

port

in th

e se

cond

hal

f of 2

017

.

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent i

s w

orki

ng w

ith o

ther

N

EBR

A s

igna

torie

s to

resp

ond

to th

e re

view

th

roug

h th

e N

BC.

Rec

omm

enda

tion

3:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at th

e Co

mm

onw

ealth

Gov

ernm

ent w

ork

with

st

ate

and

terr

itory

gov

ernm

ents

to

incl

ude

in th

e N

atio

nal E

nviro

nmen

tal

Bios

ecur

ity R

espo

nse

Agr

eem

ent a

n ex

plic

it pr

ecau

tiona

ry p

rinci

ple

whi

ch s

tate

s th

at a

la

ck o

f ful

l sci

entifi

c or

tech

nica

l cer

tain

ty

rega

rdin

g th

e fe

asib

ility

of e

radi

catio

n m

ust

be w

eigh

ed a

gain

st p

oten

tial b

iose

curi

ty

risks

whe

n de

term

inin

g w

heth

er to

mou

nt

a re

spon

se.

Not

sup

port

ed

The

purp

ose

of th

e N

EBR

A is

to e

stab

lish

natio

nal a

rran

gem

ents

for r

espo

nses

to n

atio

nally

sig

nific

ant b

iose

curi

ty

inci

dent

s w

here

ther

e ar

e pr

edom

inan

tly p

ublic

ben

efits

. Alth

ough

the

NEB

RA

doe

s no

t exp

licitl

y in

corp

orat

e th

e pr

ecau

tiona

ry p

rinci

ple,

it in

clud

es a

ppro

pria

te m

echa

nism

s to

take

into

acc

ount

sci

entifi

c or

tech

nica

l unc

erta

inty

. Th

e N

atio

nal B

iose

curi

ty M

anag

emen

t Con

sulta

tive

Com

mitt

ee (N

BMCC

) mus

t ass

ess

the

pest

or d

isea

se b

ased

on

its n

atio

nal s

igni

fican

ce; w

heth

er it

is ‘l

ikel

y’ to

be

erad

icab

le a

nd w

heth

er it

is c

ost b

enefi

cial

to m

ount

a n

atio

nal

bios

ecur

ity in

cide

nt re

spon

se.

This

ass

essm

ent c

onsi

ders

the

pote

ntia

l eco

nom

ic, e

nviro

nmen

tal a

nd s

ocia

l am

enity

impa

cts,

dra

win

g on

info

rmat

ion

from

a v

arie

ty o

f sou

rces

incl

udin

g pe

er-r

evie

wed

sci

entifi

c pa

pers

, per

sona

l com

mun

icat

ions

from

peo

ple

with

ex

perie

nce

with

the

spec

ies

unde

r ass

essm

ent a

nd a

necd

otal

dat

a fr

om n

on-e

xper

ts. I

nfor

mat

ion

sour

ces

used

for

the

asse

ssm

ent a

re c

onsi

dere

d ac

cord

ing

to a

det

erm

ined

leve

l of c

onfid

ence

(for

exa

mpl

e, in

form

atio

n fr

om g

ener

al

refe

renc

e bo

oks

is g

iven

a m

ediu

m c

onfid

ence

rat

ing)

.

If th

ere

is a

lack

of s

cien

tific

or te

chni

cal c

erta

inty

abo

ut a

dis

ease

or p

est,

an a

sses

smen

t bas

ed o

n th

e be

st a

vaila

ble

evid

ence

is p

rese

nted

for t

he N

atio

nal B

iose

curi

ty M

anag

emen

t Gro

up (N

BMG

) to

cons

ider

.

The

NEB

RA

gui

delin

es fo

r ris

k as

sess

men

t (Sc

hedu

le 2

of t

he N

EBR

A) p

rovi

de a

bal

ance

bet

wee

n al

low

ing

for

unce

rtai

nty

in te

chni

cal d

ata

and

still

mee

ting

the

requ

irem

ents

for t

he re

spon

se to

be

tech

nica

lly fe

asib

le a

nd c

ost

bene

ficia

l to

be m

ount

ed. T

his

appr

oach

is c

onsi

sten

t with

the

Emer

genc

y A

nim

al D

isea

se R

espo

nse

Agr

eem

ent

(EA

DR

A) a

nd th

e Em

erge

ncy

Plan

t Pes

t Res

pons

e D

eed

(EPP

RD

).

The

Aus

tral

ian,

sta

te a

nd te

rrito

ry g

over

nmen

ts re

cent

ly c

omm

issi

oned

the

first

five

-yea

rly re

view

of t

he N

EBR

A, w

hich

is

bei

ng u

nder

take

n by

an

exte

rnal

third

par

ty (K

PMG

). Th

e N

BC w

ill c

onsi

der a

ny re

com

men

datio

ns fo

r im

prov

emen

t fo

llow

ing

the

final

isat

ion

of th

e re

port

in th

e se

cond

hal

f of 2

017

.

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent i

s w

orki

ng w

ith o

ther

N

EBR

A s

igna

torie

s to

resp

ond

to th

e re

view

th

roug

h th

e N

BC.



TAB

LE B

1 A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t res

pons

e to

Sen

ate

inqu

iry

reco

mm

enda

tions

and

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

to F

ebru

ary

2019

Sena

te in

quir

y re

com

men

dati

ons

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent

resp

onse

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

Rec

omm

enda

tion

4:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

e Co

mm

onw

ealth

Gov

ernm

ent w

ork

with

st

ate

and

terr

itory

gov

ernm

ents

to d

evel

op

a na

tiona

lly c

onsi

sten

t met

hodo

logy

for

inco

rpor

atin

g en

viro

nmen

tal i

mpa

cts

into

cos

t-be

nefit

ana

lyse

s un

der t

he

Nat

iona

l Env

ironm

enta

l Bio

secu

rity

Re

spon

se A

gree

men

t.

Supp

orte

d

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent w

ill w

ork

thro

ugh

the

NBC

, whi

ch c

onsi

sts

of re

pres

enta

tives

from

eac

h st

ate

and

terr

itory

, to

con

side

r a n

atio

nally

con

sist

ent m

etho

dolo

gy fo

r inc

orpo

ratin

g en

viro

nmen

tal i

mpa

cts

into

cos

t-be

nefit

ana

lyse

s as

pa

rt o

f its

revi

ew o

f the

NEB

RA

.

The

Aus

tral

ian,

sta

te a

nd te

rrito

ry g

over

nmen

ts re

cent

ly c

omm

issi

oned

the

first

five

-yea

rly re

view

of t

he N

EBR

A, w

hich

is

bei

ng u

nder

take

n by

an

exte

rnal

third

par

ty (K

PMG

). Th

e N

BC w

ill c

onsi

der a

ny re

com

men

datio

ns fo

r im

prov

emen

t fo

llow

ing

the

final

isat

ion

of th

e re

port

in th

e se

cond

hal

f of 2

017

.

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent i

s w

orki

ng w

ith o

ther

N

EBR

A s

igna

torie

s to

resp

ond

to th

e re

view

th

roug

h th

e N

BC.

Rec

omm

enda

tion

5:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at th

e Co

mm

onw

ealth

Gov

ernm

ent w

ork

with

si

gnat

orie

s to

the

Nat

iona

l Env

ironm

enta

l Bi

osec

urity

Res

pons

e A

gree

men

t to

incl

ude

in th

at a

gree

men

t a tr

ansi

tion

to

man

agem

ent f

ram

ewor

k to

cla

rify

the

resp

onsi

bilit

ies

of th

e pa

rtie

s fo

r ong

oing

m

anag

emen

t act

iviti

es if

era

dica

tion

is

deem

ed to

be

no lo

nger

feas

ible

.

Supp

orte

d

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent r

ecog

nise

s th

e im

port

ance

of t

rans

ition

to m

anag

emen

t fra

mew

orks

and

how

they

ass

ist

in c

lari

fyin

g pa

rtie

s’ re

spon

sibi

litie

s fo

r ong

oing

man

agem

ent a

ctiv

ities

whe

n er

adic

atio

n is

dee

med

to b

e no

long

er

feas

ible

. For

exa

mpl

e, tr

ansi

tion

to m

anag

emen

t pro

gram

s w

ere

pilo

ted

for m

yrtle

rus

t, br

anch

ed b

room

rape

and

Asi

an

hone

y be

es a

fter

the

erad

icat

ion

of e

ach

was

con

clud

ed to

be

no lo

nger

tech

nica

lly fe

asib

le. T

hese

pilo

t pro

gram

s pr

ovid

ed fu

ndin

g fo

r act

iviti

es th

at a

llow

ed in

dust

ry a

nd/o

r the

com

mun

ity to

ada

pt to

livi

ng w

ith th

e pa

rtic

ular

pes

t or

dise

ase

and

to s

et u

p sy

stem

s fo

r man

agem

ent w

ithin

affe

cted

juris

dict

ions

.

Tran

sitio

n to

man

agem

ent a

rran

gem

ents

wer

e re

cent

ly in

clud

ed in

the

EPPR

D. U

nder

the

EPPR

D, t

rans

ition

to

man

agem

ent p

rogr

ams

can

only

be

cons

ider

ed if

an

incu

rsio

n is

no

long

er te

chni

cally

feas

ible

or c

ost b

enefi

cial

to

era

dica

te. S

igna

torie

s to

the

EAD

RA

and

the

NEB

RA

hav

e ag

reed

to e

xplo

re o

ptio

ns to

inco

rpor

ate

tran

sitio

n to

m

anag

emen

t fra

mew

orks

into

thos

e ag

reem

ents

.

The

Aus

tral

ian,

sta

te a

nd te

rrito

ry g

over

nmen

ts re

cent

ly c

omm

issi

oned

the

first

five

-yea

rly re

view

of t

he N

EBR

A, w

hich

is

bei

ng u

nder

take

n by

an

exte

rnal

third

par

ty (K

PMG

). Th

e N

BC w

ill c

onsi

der a

ny re

com

men

datio

ns fo

r im

prov

emen

t fo

llow

ing

the

final

isat

ion

of th

e re

port

in th

e se

cond

hal

f of 2

017

.

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent i

s w

orki

ng w

ith o

ther

N

EBR

A s

igna

torie

s to

resp

ond

to th

e re

view

th

roug

h th

e N

BC.

Rec

omm

enda

tion

6:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at th

e D

epar

tmen

t of t

he E

nviro

nmen

t rev

iew

ta

rget

s co

ntai

ned

in A

ustr

alia

's B

iodi

vers

ity

Cons

erva

tion

Stra

tegy

20

10–2

030

and

de

velo

p m

easu

rem

ent m

etho

dolo

gies

to

ensu

re th

at A

ustr

alia

's p

rogr

ess

can

be

mea

ning

fully

ass

esse

d.

Supp

orte

d

The

Dep

artm

ent o

f the

Env

ironm

ent a

nd E

nerg

y ha

s un

dert

aken

a re

view

of t

he fi

rst fi

ve y

ears

of A

ustr

alia

’s B

iodi

vers

ity

Cons

erva

tion

Stra

tegy

20

10–2

030

in c

onju

nctio

n w

ith a

ll st

ate

and

terr

itory

gov

ernm

ents

and

the

Aus

tral

ian

Loca

l G

over

nmen

t Ass

ocia

tion.

The

revi

ew a

sses

sed

impl

emen

tatio

n of

the

stra

tegy

, inc

ludi

ng th

e na

tiona

l tar

gets

. It a

lso

cons

ider

ed o

ppor

tuni

ties

to im

prov

e th

e st

rate

gy, i

nclu

ding

the

robu

stne

ss a

nd d

urab

ility

of o

bjec

tives

, res

pons

ibili

ty a

nd a

ccou

ntab

ility

fo

r the

del

iver

y of

out

com

es, m

onito

ring

and

repo

rtin

g sy

stem

s, a

nd a

lignm

ent w

ith o

ther

nat

iona

l and

in

tern

atio

nal o

blig

atio

ns.

The

revi

ew w

as p

rese

nted

for c

onsi

dera

tion

at th

e M

eetin

g of

Env

ironm

ent M

inis

ters

on

25 N

ovem

ber 2

016

. It f

ound

th

ere

wer

e op

port

uniti

es to

bui

ld o

n go

od o

utco

mes

ach

ieve

d so

far i

nclu

ding

by

enha

ncin

g pa

rtne

rshi

ps to

take

pr

actic

al a

nd fo

cuse

d ac

tion

to im

plem

ent t

he s

trat

egy.

As

the

stra

tegy

sup

port

s A

ustr

alia

’s im

plem

enta

tion

of th

e U

nite

d N

atio

ns C

onve

ntio

n on

Bio

logi

cal D

iver

sity

, Min

iste

rs

agre

ed th

at it

sho

uld

be u

pdat

ed to

mee

t cur

rent

and

em

ergi

ng c

halle

nges

.

Not

app

licab

le



TAB

LE B

1 A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t res

pons

e to

Sen

ate

inqu

iry

reco

mm

enda

tions

and

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

to F

ebru

ary

2019

Sena

te in

quir

y re

com

men

dati

ons

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent

resp

onse

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

Rec

omm

enda

tion

7:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at th

e A

ustr

alia

n N

atio

nal A

udit

Offi

ce c

ondu

ct a

pe

rfor

man

ce a

udit

of th

e D

epar

tmen

t of t

he

Envi

ronm

ent's

impl

emen

tatio

n of

Aus

tral

ia's

Bi

odiv

ersi

ty C

onse

rvat

ion

Stra

tegy

20

10–2

030

with

a p

artic

ular

focu

s on

how

pr

ogre

ss to

war

ds ta

rget

s is

mea

sure

d.

Not

ed

The

Dep

artm

ent o

f the

Env

ironm

ent a

nd E

nerg

y w

ill b

ring

the

com

mitt

ee’s

reco

mm

enda

tion

to th

e at

tent

ion

of th

e A

ustr

alia

n N

atio

nal A

udit

Offi

ce. I

t sho

uld

be n

oted

that

impl

emen

tatio

n of

the

Biod

iver

sity

Con

serv

atio

n St

rate

gy is

the

resp

onsi

bilit

y of

all

juris

dict

ions

.

Not

app

licab

le

Rec

omm

enda

tion

8:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at th

e D

epar

tmen

t of A

gric

ultu

re a

nd th

e D

epar

tmen

t of t

he E

nviro

nmen

t rev

iew

pr

oces

ses

for a

lloca

ting

fund

ing

unde

r the

ir na

tura

l res

ourc

e m

anag

emen

t pro

gram

s w

ith a

vie

w to

min

imis

ing

dela

ys fo

r tim

e-se

nsiti

ve p

roje

cts.

Supp

orte

d in

pri

ncip

le

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent i

s co

mm

itted

to m

inim

isin

g de

lays

for t

ime-

sens

itive

pro

ject

s. It

doe

s so

thro

ugh

a nu

mbe

r of

mec

hani

sms,

not

lim

ited

to n

atur

al re

sour

ce m

anag

emen

t (N

RM

) pro

gram

s, in

clud

ing

as a

sig

nato

ry to

resp

onse

ag

reem

ents

, im

plem

enta

tion

of th

e St

rong

er B

iose

curi

ty a

nd Q

uara

ntin

e In

itiat

ive

(SBQ

I) an

d in

itiat

ives

fund

ed

thro

ugh

the

Whi

te P

aper

s on

Agr

icul

tura

l Com

petit

iven

ess

and

Dev

elop

ing

Nor

ther

n A

ustr

alia

.

Arr

ange

men

ts fo

r res

pond

ing

to e

xotic

pes

ts a

nd d

isea

ses

that

are

det

ecte

d w

ithin

Aus

tral

ia a

nd h

ave

the

pote

ntia

l to

impa

ct o

n an

imal

, pla

nt o

r hum

an h

ealth

or t

he e

nviro

nmen

t are

set

out

in th

e N

EBR

A, E

AD

RA

, and

the

EPPR

D, t

o w

hich

th

e A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t is

a si

gnat

ory.

The

effe

ctiv

enes

s an

d im

plem

enta

tion

of th

ese

agre

emen

ts is

revi

ewed

eve

ry

five

year

s.

In a

dditi

on to

bei

ng a

sig

nato

ry to

the

resp

onse

agr

eem

ents

, the

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent h

as c

omm

itted

$20

mill

ion

over

four

yea

rs to

enh

ance

rap

id re

spon

se c

apab

ility

to a

ddre

ss u

rgen

t bio

secu

rity

issu

es th

roug

h th

e SB

QI.

The

SBQ

I in

clud

es d

edic

ated

reso

urce

s to

sup

port

a p

ool o

f ski

lled

and

expe

rienc

ed p

erso

nnel

and

a b

est p

ract

ice

natio

nal

netw

ork

for d

iagn

ostic

and

resp

onse

man

agem

ent e

xper

tise.

It is

ava

ilabl

e to

ass

ist w

ith a

n in

curs

ion

in th

e ea

rly s

tage

s to

redu

ce a

dver

se im

pact

s, in

clud

ing

to th

e en

viro

nmen

t.

The

SBQ

I doe

s no

t rep

lace

nor

mal

com

mitm

ents

und

erta

ken

by s

tate

and

terr

itory

gov

ernm

ents

but

com

plem

ents

thei

r eff

orts

, par

ticul

arly

in th

e in

itial

sta

ge o

f an

incu

rsio

n.

The

com

mitm

ent a

lso

incl

udes

a r

ange

of p

repa

redn

ess

activ

ities

to b

uild

nat

iona

l cap

abili

ty a

nd p

rovi

de lo

ng-t

erm

be

nefit

s be

yond

the

com

plet

ion

of th

is in

itiat

ive.

Und

er th

e A

gric

ultu

ral C

ompe

titiv

enes

s W

hite

Pap

er, t

he A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t has

com

mitt

ed $

50 m

illio

n ov

er fo

ur y

ears

(sta

rtin

g 1

July

20

15) t

o su

ppor

t nat

iona

lly s

igni

fican

t agr

icul

tura

l an

d en

viro

nmen

tal p

est a

nd d

isea

se e

radi

catio

n pr

ogra

ms

and

enha

nced

resp

onse

cap

abili

ty.

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent d

eliv

ers

NR

M p

rogr

ams

to a

ssis

t with

the

man

agem

ent o

f est

ablis

hed

pest

s an

d di

seas

es in

lin

e w

ith A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t prio

ritie

s an

d gr

ant a

dmin

istr

atio

n po

licy.

Thi

s in

clud

es p

rovi

ding

NR

M fu

ndin

g fo

r the

co

mm

unity

to a

chie

ve th

e st

rate

gic

obje

ctiv

es o

f the

Nat

iona

l Lan

dcar

e Pr

ogra

mm

e (N

LP) t

hrou

gh in

vest

men

t of m

ore

than

$45

0 m

illio

n ov

er fo

ur y

ears

(20

14–1

8) w

ith th

e 56

regi

onal

NR

M o

rgan

isat

ions

acr

oss

Aus

tral

ia.

Thes

e re

gion

al N

RM

org

anis

atio

ns h

ave

been

allo

cate

d fu

ndin

g un

der t

his

inve

stm

ent u

ntil

2018

. The

fund

ing

is p

rovi

ded

on a

yea

rly b

asis

thro

ugh

the

stat

e (w

here

the

regi

onal

bod

ies

are

stat

e-ba

sed

entit

ies)

or d

irect

to

com

mun

ity-b

ased

regi

onal

org

anis

atio

ns (r

egio

nal N

RM

gro

ups

and

entit

ies)

. The

regi

onal

NR

M o

rgan

isat

ions

act

as

deliv

ery

agen

ts u

nder

the

prog

ram

and

add

ress

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent o

utco

mes

and

regi

onal

prio

ritie

s su

ch a

s w

eed

and

pest

con

trol

, upt

ake

of s

usta

inab

le fa

rmin

g pr

actic

es a

nd b

iodi

vers

ity c

onse

rvat

ion.

Pla

nnin

g, m

anag

emen

t and

tim

ing

of a

ctiv

ities

ass

ocia

ted

with

this

fund

ing

is d

ecid

ed b

y th

e re

gion

al b

ody

in c

onsu

ltatio

n w

ith th

e A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t and

thei

r com

mun

ities

. Reg

iona

l bod

ies

are

requ

ired

to a

lloca

te a

min

imum

of 2

0 p

er c

ent o

f the

ir an

nual

A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t NLP

fund

ing

to lo

cal,

on-g

roun

d pr

ojec

ts a

nd re

late

d ac

tiviti

es th

at a

re d

eliv

ered

by,

or d

irect

ly

enga

ge w

ith, t

he lo

cal c

omm

unity

. Thi

s fu

ndin

g is

ava

ilabl

e ov

er s

hort

(one

yea

r) a

nd lo

nger

-ter

m ti

mef

ram

es, a

nd

cont

ribut

es to

pro

vidi

ng o

utco

mes

for p

roje

cts

that

can

be

rega

rded

as

time-

sens

itive

.

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent h

as c

omm

itted

$2

0 m

illio

n ov

er fo

ur y

ears

to e

nhan

ce r

apid

re

spon

se c

apab

ility

to a

ddre

ss u

rgen

t bio

secu

rity

is

sues

thro

ugh

the

SBQ

I.

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent h

as c

omm

itted

$5

0 m

illio

n ov

er fo

ur y

ears

(sta

rtin

g 1

July

20

15)

to s

uppo

rt n

atio

nally

sig

nific

ant a

gric

ultu

ral a

nd

envi

ronm

enta

l pes

t and

dis

ease

era

dica

tion

prog

ram

s an

d en

hanc

e re

spon

se c

apab

ility

.



TAB

LE B

1 A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t res

pons

e to

Sen

ate

inqu

iry

reco

mm

enda

tions

and

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

to F

ebru

ary

2019

Sena

te in

quir

y re

com

men

dati

ons

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent

resp

onse

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

Rec

omm

enda

tion

8 (c

onti

nued

):

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at th

e D

epar

tmen

t of A

gric

ultu

re a

nd th

e D

epar

tmen

t of t

he E

nviro

nmen

t rev

iew

pr

oces

ses

for a

lloca

ting

fund

ing

unde

r the

ir na

tura

l res

ourc

e m

anag

emen

t pro

gram

s w

ith a

vie

w to

min

imis

ing

dela

ys fo

r tim

e-se

nsiti

ve p

roje

cts.

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent w

ill c

ontin

ue to

revi

ew N

RM

pro

gram

del

iver

y ar

rang

emen

ts w

ith a

vie

w to

sim

plif

ying

ar

rang

emen

ts s

o it

can

quic

kly

and

easi

ly re

spon

d to

em

ergi

ng is

sues

. Sta

keho

lder

feed

back

is s

ough

t and

revi

ewed

fo

llow

ing

prog

ram

fund

ing

roun

ds to

ens

ure

that

futu

re p

roce

sses

min

imis

e ad

min

istr

ativ

e co

sts

and

avoi

d un

nece

ssar

y de

lays

. The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent w

ill c

ontin

ue to

take

into

con

side

ratio

n le

sson

s le

arnt

and

opp

ortu

nitie

s fo

r im

prov

emen

t in

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f fut

ure

fund

ing

roun

ds to

impr

ove

effici

ency

.

The

man

agem

ent o

f est

ablis

hed

pest

s is

prim

arily

the

resp

onsi

bilit

y of

sta

te a

nd te

rrito

ry g

over

nmen

ts a

nd la

nd

man

ager

s. H

owev

er, t

he A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t doe

s m

ake

som

e st

rate

gic

inve

stm

ents

in p

est a

nd w

eed

man

agem

ent

whe

re it

is in

the

natio

nal i

nter

est.

For e

xam

ple,

as

part

of t

he D

epar

tmen

t of t

he E

nviro

nmen

t and

Ene

rgy’

s Th

reat

ened

Sp

ecie

s St

rate

gy, m

ore

than

$10

mill

ion

has

been

mob

ilise

d fo

r pro

ject

s co

mm

itted

to re

duce

the

thre

at o

f fer

al c

ats.

Thro

ugh

the

Agr

icul

tura

l Com

petit

iven

ess

Whi

te P

aper

, the

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent i

s pr

ovid

ing

fund

ing

to s

tate

and

te

rrito

ry g

over

nmen

ts to

del

iver

pro

ject

s to

bui

ld th

e sk

ills

and

capa

city

of l

andh

olde

rs, i

ndus

try

and

com

mun

ity g

roup

s in

man

agin

g es

tabl

ishe

d an

imal

pes

ts a

nd w

eeds

on

the

grou

nd. F

undi

ng is

als

o av

aila

ble

to d

evel

op a

nd im

prov

e be

tter

te

chno

logi

es a

nd to

ols

to ta

ckle

est

ablis

hed

pest

ani

mal

and

wee

d sp

ecie

s.



TAB

LE B

1 A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t res

pons

e to

Sen

ate

inqu

iry

reco

mm

enda

tions

and

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

to F

ebru

ary

2019

Sena

te in

quir

y re

com

men

dati

ons

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent

resp

onse

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

Rec

omm

enda

tion

9:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at th

e D

epar

tmen

t of t

he E

nviro

nmen

t wor

k w

ith th

e D

epar

tmen

t of A

gric

ultu

re to

de

velo

p an

d pu

blis

h a

natio

nal p

riori

ty li

st

of p

ests

and

dis

ease

s no

t yet

est

ablis

hed

in A

ustr

alia

that

are

of e

nviro

nmen

tal

bios

ecur

ity c

once

rn.

Supp

orte

d in

pri

ncip

le

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent,

stat

e an

d te

rrito

ry g

over

nmen

ts a

nd in

dust

ries

mai

ntai

n a

rang

e of

pes

t and

dis

ease

list

s fo

r a

varie

ty o

f pur

pose

s. F

or e

xam

ple,

ther

e ar

e a

rang

e of

not

ifiab

le p

est o

r dis

ease

list

s to

mee

t dom

estic

or i

nter

natio

nal

repo

rtin

g ob

ligat

ions

or t

o pr

iori

tise

actio

n, s

uch

as s

urve

illan

ce, d

iagn

ostic

or i

nter

vent

ion

effor

t.

In Ju

ly 2

015

, the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Agr

icul

ture

and

Wat

er R

esou

rces

com

men

ced

wor

king

thro

ugh

the

Aus

tral

ian

Bure

au

of A

gric

ultu

ral a

nd R

esou

rce

Econ

omic

s an

d Sc

ienc

es (A

BAR

ES) t

o id

entif

y po

tent

ial i

nvas

ive

spec

ies

and

dise

ases

that

ha

ve p

redo

min

atel

y en

viro

nmen

tal i

mpa

cts,

and

to d

evel

op p

roce

sses

to b

ette

r diff

eren

tiate

bet

wee

n w

eed

thre

ats

that

ha

ve e

nviro

nmen

tal v

ersu

s pr

oduc

tion

impa

cts.

Thi

s w

ork

will

str

engt

hen

exis

ting

natio

nal b

iose

curi

ty a

rran

gem

ents

to

man

age

the

risk

of e

ntry

to A

ustr

alia

of e

xotic

wee

ds a

nd b

ette

r inf

orm

pre

pare

dnes

s an

d er

adic

atio

n ar

rang

emen

ts to

re

spon

d to

exo

tic w

eeds

and

env

ironm

enta

l bio

secu

rity

thre

ats

if th

ey a

rise.

The

Plan

t Hea

lth C

omm

ittee

(PH

C) h

as e

ndor

sed

a Pl

ant P

est P

riori

tisat

ion

Fram

ewor

k w

hich

pro

vide

s a

gene

ric a

nd

syst

emat

ic a

ppro

ach

to p

riori

tisat

ion

of e

xotic

pla

nt p

ests

, inc

ludi

ng th

ose

pest

s th

at im

pact

on

the

envi

ronm

ent,

to

enab

le g

over

nmen

ts a

nd o

ther

dec

isio

n m

aker

s to

focu

s th

eir b

iose

curi

ty in

vest

men

t.

The

fram

ewor

k ap

plie

s th

e na

tiona

l sig

nific

ance

and

nat

iona

l int

eres

t prin

cipl

es d

evel

oped

by

the

NBC

, and

set

s ou

t the

po

licy

obje

ctiv

es a

nd c

rite

ria fo

r prio

ritis

atio

n. T

hrou

gh a

nat

iona

l exp

ert e

licita

tion

proc

ess

whi

ch a

pplie

d th

e pr

inci

ples

an

d cr

iteria

set

out

in th

e fr

amew

ork,

43

Nat

iona

l Prio

rity

Pla

nt P

ests

(NPP

P) h

ave

been

iden

tified

and

end

orse

d by

the

PHC

. A c

ompl

ete

list o

f the

43

NPP

Ps is

ava

ilabl

e fr

om th

e D

epar

tmen

t of A

gric

ultu

re a

nd W

ater

Res

ourc

es w

ebsi

te.

Of t

hese

indi

vidu

al p

ests

or g

roup

s of

sim

ilar p

ests

, 16

are

expe

cted

to h

ave

a si

gnifi

cant

neg

ativ

e im

pact

on

Aus

tral

ian

nativ

e pl

ants

, ani

mal

s an

d/or

the

envi

ronm

ent.

The

NPP

P w

ill b

e us

ed to

gui

de g

over

nmen

t effo

rt, i

nves

tmen

t and

nat

iona

l act

ion,

and

the

PHC

will

revi

ew th

e pe

sts

to id

entif

y ga

ps in

pre

vent

ion

and

prep

ared

ness

. The

Dep

artm

ent o

f Agr

icul

ture

and

Wat

er R

esou

rces

will

use

th

e na

tiona

l prio

ritie

s to

focu

s pr

epar

edne

ss a

ctiv

ities

, inc

ludi

ng w

ith fu

ndin

g pr

ovid

ed th

roug

h th

e A

gric

ultu

ral

Com

petit

iven

ess

Whi

te P

aper

.

The

Inva

sive

Pla

nts

and

Ani

mal

s Co

mm

ittee

(IPA

C), a

sub

com

mitt

ee o

f the

NBC

, is

curr

ently

dev

elop

ing

a lis

t of n

atio

nal

surv

eilla

nce

targ

ets

for e

xotic

ver

tebr

ates

. The

10

spe

cies

on

the

list a

re in

tend

ed a

s le

adin

g ex

ampl

es o

f am

phib

ians

, re

ptile

s, b

irds,

mam

mal

s an

d fis

h th

at c

ould

bec

ome

esta

blis

hed

in th

e A

ustr

alia

n en

viro

nmen

t eith

er th

roug

h an

ac

cide

ntal

pat

hway

to A

ustr

alia

(for

exa

mpl

e, s

tow

away

s) o

r a li

kely

ille

gal d

elib

erat

e in

trod

uctio

n (f

or e

xam

ple,

sm

uggl

ed o

r ille

gally

kep

t). E

ach

of th

e 10

spe

cies

wou

ld p

ose

natio

nally

sig

nific

ant i

mpa

cts,

and

cou

ld fo

rm th

e ba

sis

of s

urve

illan

ce, e

duca

tion

and

prep

ared

ness

act

iviti

es c

oord

inat

ed a

mon

g go

vern

men

ts a

nd w

ith in

dust

ry a

nd th

e w

ider

com

mun

ity.

The

Ani

mal

Hea

lth C

omm

ittee

(AH

C) m

aint

ains

the

Nat

iona

l Lis

t of N

otifi

able

Ani

mal

Dis

ease

s to

faci

litat

e di

seas

e re

port

ing

and

cont

rol o

f ter

rest

rial a

nim

als.

The

list

incl

udes

key

dis

ease

s on

the

Wor

ld O

rgan

isat

ion

of A

nim

al H

ealth

(O

IE) l

ist o

f not

ifiab

le d

isea

ses

as w

ell a

s en

dem

ic d

isea

ses

of n

atio

nal s

igni

fican

ce. T

he re

quire

men

t to

repo

rt a

no

tifiab

le d

isea

se is

con

tain

ed in

sta

te a

nd te

rrito

ry le

gisl

atio

n an

d oc

curr

ence

s of

dis

ease

s on

this

list

mus

t be

repo

rted

to

sta

te o

r ter

rito

ry a

utho

ritie

s. T

he li

st is

regu

larly

revi

ewed

and

upd

ated

by

the

AH

C—it

was

last

revi

ewed

in 2

013

and

is

cur

rent

ly u

nder

revi

ew.

In re

latio

n to

mar

ine

pest

s, th

e M

arin

e Pe

st S

ecto

ral C

omm

ittee

(MPS

C) is

cur

rent

ly d

evel

opin

g th

e A

ustr

alia

n Pr

iori

ty

Mar

ine

Pest

s Li

st. T

his

list w

ill in

clud

e bo

th e

stab

lishe

d an

d ex

otic

spe

cies

and

will

form

the

basi

s of

Aus

tral

ia’s

repo

rtin

g sy

stem

for m

arin

e pe

sts,

and

will

als

o fa

cilit

ate

resp

onse

s to

mar

ine

pest

em

erge

ncie

s. E

xotic

mar

ine

pest

s w

ill b

e in

clud

ed if

they

mee

t the

nat

iona

l sig

nific

ance

cri

terio

n ou

tline

d in

the

NEB

RA

. Env

ironm

enta

l im

pact

s ar

e in

clud

ed in

th

e na

tiona

l sig

nific

ance

cri

terio

n.

A N

atio

nal L

ist o

f Rep

orta

ble

Dis

ease

of A

quat

ic A

nim

als

has

also

bee

n de

velo

ped

to id

entif

y pr

iori

ty a

quat

ic a

nim

al

dise

ases

of i

mpo

rtan

ce to

Aus

tral

ia, m

any

of w

hich

cou

ld a

ffect

bot

h in

dust

ry a

nd/o

r the

env

ironm

ent.

This

incl

udes

bo

th e

xotic

and

end

emic

dis

ease

s.

Whi

le th

ese

lists

will

ass

ist i

n pr

iori

tisin

g hi

gh im

pact

pes

ts, t

he D

epar

tmen

t of A

gric

ultu

re a

nd W

ater

Res

ourc

es

cont

inue

s to

con

duct

act

iviti

es a

t the

bor

der f

or a

ll ex

otic

pes

t inc

ursi

ons.

In Ju

ly 2

015

Agr

icul

ture

com

men

ced

wor

king

th

roug

h th

e A

ustr

alia

n Bu

reau

of A

gric

ultu

ral a

nd

Reso

urce

Eco

nom

ics

and

Scie

nces

(ABA

RES

) to

iden

tify

pote

ntia

l inv

asiv

e sp

ecie

s an

d di

seas

es

that

hav

e pr

edom

inat

ely

envi

ronm

enta

l im

pact

s,

and

to d

evel

op p

roce

sses

to b

ette

r diff

eren

tiate

be

twee

n w

eed

thre

ats

that

hav

e en

viro

nmen

tal

vers

us p

rodu

ctio

n im

pact

s.

In re

latio

n to

mar

ine

pest

s, th

e M

arin

e Pe

st

Sect

oral

Com

mitt

ee (M

PSC)

is c

urre

ntly

de

velo

ping

the

Aus

tral

ian

Prio

rity

Mar

ine

Pest

s Li

st. T

his

list w

ill in

clud

e bo

th e

stab

lishe

d an

d ex

otic

spe

cies

and

will

form

the

basi

s of

A

ustr

alia

’s re

port

ing

syst

em fo

r mar

ine

pest

s,

and

will

als

o fa

cilit

ate

resp

onse

s to

mar

ine

pest

em

erge

ncie

s.

A N

atio

nal L

ist o

f Rep

orta

ble

Dis

ease

of A

quat

ic

Ani

mal

s ha

s al

so b

een

deve

lope

d to

iden

tify

prio

rity

aqu

atic

ani

mal

dis

ease

s of

impo

rtan

ce

to A

ustr

alia

, man

y of

whi

ch c

ould

affe

ct b

oth

indu

stry

and

/or t

he e

nviro

nmen

t. Th

is in

clud

es

both

exo

tic a

nd e

ndem

ic d

isea

ses.

http://www.agriculture.gov.au/pests-diseases-weeds/plant



TAB

LE B

1 A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t res

pons

e to

Sen

ate

inqu

iry

reco

mm

enda

tions

and

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

to F

ebru

ary

2019

Sena

te in

quir

y re

com

men

dati

ons

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent

resp

onse

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

Rec

omm

enda

tion

10

:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at th

e D

epar

tmen

t of A

gric

ultu

re re

view

and

up

date

the

Nor

ther

n A

ustr

alia

Qua

rant

ine

Stra

tegy

by

mid

-20

16, a

nd th

at th

is re

view

sp

ecifi

cally

exa

min

e th

e ad

equa

cy o

f re

sour

ces

avai

labl

e to

impl

emen

t the

st

rate

gy a

nd s

ugge

st c

hang

es th

at c

an b

e m

ade

to im

prov

e en

viro

nmen

tal b

iose

curi

ty

outc

omes

und

er th

e st

rate

gy.

Supp

orte

d

The

Nor

ther

n A

ustr

alia

Qua

rant

ine

Stra

tegy

(NA

QS)

will

con

tinue

to m

onito

r for

incu

rsio

ns o

f new

pes

ts a

nd d

isea

ses

esta

blis

hing

in th

e no

rth

and

pote

ntia

lly m

ovin

g so

uth.

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent h

as c

omm

itted

to s

tren

gthe

n bi

osec

urity

in n

orth

ern

Aus

tral

ia a

s pa

rt o

f its

com

mitm

ent t

o en

sure

that

bio

secu

rity

ris

ks in

the

nort

h co

ntin

ue to

be

appr

opria

tely

man

aged

thro

ugh

the

Whi

te P

aper

s on

Agr

icul

ture

Com

petit

iven

ess

and

Dev

elop

ing

Nor

ther

n A

ustr

alia

. Fo

r exa

mpl

e, u

nder

the

Agr

icul

ture

Com

petit

iven

ess

Whi

te P

aper

, the

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent h

as c

omm

itted

ove

r $6

0 m

illio

n to

des

ign,

impl

emen

t and

pro

mot

e co

llabo

rativ

e bi

osec

urity

sur

veill

ance

pra

ctic

e an

d te

chno

logi

es fo

r pr

iori

ty p

ests

, dis

ease

s an

d/or

loca

tions

in n

orth

ern

Aus

tral

ia. A

n ad

ditio

nal $

12.4

mill

ion

in fu

ndin

g fo

r Ind

igen

ous

Ran

ger g

roup

s to

exp

and

surv

eilla

nce

and

com

plia

nce

activ

ities

in n

orth

ern

Aus

tral

ia w

as a

lso

anno

unce

d in

the

Whi

te

Pape

r on

Dev

elop

ing

Nor

ther

n A

ustr

alia

.

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent h

as c

omm

itted

ove

r $6

0 m

illio

n to

des

ign,

impl

emen

t and

pro

mot

e co

llabo

rativ

e bi

osec

urity

sur

veill

ance

pra

ctic

e an

d te

chno

logi

es fo

r prio

rity

pes

ts, d

isea

ses

and/

or

loca

tions

in n

orth

ern

Aus

tral

ia. A

n ad

ditio

nal

$12.

4 m

illio

n in

fund

ing

for I

ndig

enou

s R

ange

r gr

oups

to e

xpan

d su

rvei

llanc

e an

d co

mpl

ianc

e ac

tiviti

es in

nor

ther

n A

ustr

alia

Rec

omm

enda

tion

11:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at b

oth

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Agr

icul

ture

and

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f the

Env

ironm

ent c

ondu

ct

revi

ews

to a

sses

s w

heth

er th

eir e

xist

ing

reso

urce

s ca

n be

bet

ter t

arge

ted

to

addr

ess

know

n ar

eas

of e

nviro

nmen

tal

bios

ecur

ity r

isk.

In p

artic

ular

, the

com

mitt

ee

reco

mm

ends

that

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f the

En

viro

nmen

t exa

min

e w

heth

er re

sour

ces

can

be d

irect

ed to

war

ds e

ffect

ive

impl

emen

tatio

n of

exi

stin

g th

reat

aba

tem

ent

plan

s un

der t

he E

nviro

nmen

t Pro

tect

ion

and

Biod

iver

sity

Con

serv

atio

n A

ct.

Supp

orte

d

Bios

ecur

ity is

the

man

agem

ent o

f the

ris

ks to

the

econ

omy,

the

envi

ronm

ent a

nd th

e co

mm

unity

, of p

ests

and

di

seas

es e

nter

ing,

em

ergi

ng, e

stab

lishi

ng o

r spr

eadi

ng—

it is

not

pos

sibl

e or

des

irabl

e to

man

age

bios

ecur

ity r

isks

to

one

sect

or in

isol

atio

n of

ano

ther

. The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent i

s co

nsid

erin

g a

rang

e of

initi

ativ

es to

bet

ter t

arge

t ris

k m

anag

emen

t act

iviti

es a

nd s

tren

gthe

n th

e m

anag

emen

t of e

nviro

nmen

tal b

iose

curi

ty, i

nclu

ding

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f an

env

ironm

enta

l bio

secu

rity

pol

icy

stat

emen

t, an

d pr

ogre

ss re

port

s on

the

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent’s

man

agem

ent o

f bi

osec

urity

. Thi

s w

ork

will

incl

ude

exam

inin

g th

e A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t’s e

ffort

in re

latio

n to

env

ironm

enta

l bio

secu

rity

.

The

NR

M p

rogr

ams

impl

emen

ted

by th

e D

epar

tmen

t of t

he E

nviro

nmen

t and

Ene

rgy

and

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Agr

icul

ture

an

d W

ater

Res

ourc

es ta

rget

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent p

riori

ties,

incl

udin

g kn

own

area

s of

env

ironm

enta

l bio

secu

rity

ris

k.

For e

xam

ple,

und

er th

e G

reen

Arm

y Pr

ogra

m a

num

ber o

f Gre

en A

rmy

team

s us

ed b

ait s

tatio

ns to

con

trol

yel

low

cra

zy

ants

nex

t to

the

Wet

Tro

pics

Wor

ld H

erita

ge A

rea.

Und

er th

e re

gion

al s

trea

m o

f the

NR

M fu

ndin

g un

der t

he N

LP, o

ver $

450

mill

ion

is b

eing

spe

nt to

sup

port

loca

l act

ion

by lo

cal c

omm

uniti

es. T

hese

act

ions

are

exp

ecte

d to

add

ress

a r

ange

of p

riori

ties

incl

udin

g en

viro

nmen

tal b

iose

curi

ty

risk.

Exa

mpl

es in

clud

e:

• a

proj

ect s

pend

ing

over

$1

mill

ion

to c

ontr

ol w

oody

Wee

ds o

f Nat

iona

l Sig

nific

ance

in th

e La

ke E

yre

catc

hmen

ts o

f Q

ueen

slan

d

• th

e N

atur

al R

esou

rces

Kan

garo

o Is

land

’s p

roje

ct T

oo G

ood

to S

poil,

Too

Pre

ciou

s to

Los

e: a

bet

ter b

iose

curi

ty fu

ture

fo

r Kan

garo

o Is

land

, whi

ch is

add

ress

ing

envi

ronm

enta

l bio

secu

rity

ris

ks th

roug

h a

com

mun

ity e

duca

tion

and

surv

eilla

nce

prog

ram

to b

uild

fron

tline

def

ence

aga

inst

new

and

exi

stin

g la

nd a

nd m

arin

e in

fest

atio

ns.

The

outc

omes

of t

hese

pro

gram

s re

fere

nce

Aus

tral

ia’s

rele

vant

nat

iona

l and

inte

rnat

iona

l obl

igat

ions

, suc

h as

the

Conv

entio

n on

Bio

logi

cal D

iver

sity

, and

pro

tect

ing

and

cons

ervi

ng m

atte

rs o

f nat

iona

l env

ironm

enta

l sig

nific

ance

und

er

the

Envi

ronm

ent P

rote

ctio

n an

d Bi

odiv

ersi

ty C

onse

rvat

ion

Act

199

9 (E

PBC

Act

). O

utco

mes

als

o co

ntrib

ute

to a

ctio

ns

iden

tified

und

er e

xist

ing

thre

at a

bate

men

t pla

ns (

TAPs

).

NR

M p

rogr

ams

such

as

the

Gre

en A

rmy

and

20 M

illio

n Tr

ees

Prog

ram

me

incl

ude

asse

ssm

ent c

rite

ria re

latin

g to

the

exte

nt to

whi

ch p

roje

cts

cont

ribut

e to

war

ds th

e im

plem

enta

tion

of re

leva

nt n

atio

nal a

nd re

gion

al e

nviro

nmen

tal o

r co

nser

vatio

n m

anag

emen

t pla

ns. T

hese

pla

ns m

ay in

clud

e TA

Ps.

A n

umbe

r of G

reen

Arm

y te

ams

used

bai

t sta

tions

to

con

trol

yel

low

cra

zy a

nts

next

to th

e W

et

Trop

ics

Wor

ld H

erita

ge A

rea.

Und

er th

e re

gion

al s

trea

m o

f the

NR

M fu

ndin

g un

der t

he N

LP, o

ver $

450

mill

ion

is b

eing

spe

nt

to s

uppo

rt lo

cal a

ctio

n by

loca

l com

mun

ities

. Th

ese

actio

ns a

re e

xpec

ted

to a

ddre

ss a

ran

ge o

f pr

iori

ties

incl

udin

g en

viro

nmen

tal b

iose

curi

ty r

isk.

Ex

ampl

es in

clud

e:

• a

proj

ect s

pend

ing

over

$1

mill

ion

to c

ontr

ol

woo

dy W

eeds

of N

atio

nal S

igni

fican

ce in

the

Lake

Eyr

e ca

tchm

ents

of Q

ueen

slan

d

• th

e N

atur

al R

esou

rces

Kan

garo

o Is

land

’s

proj

ect T

oo G

ood

to S

poil,

Too

Pre

ciou

s to

Los

e:

a be

tter

bio

secu

rity

futu

re fo

r Kan

garo

o Is

land

, w

hich

is a

ddre

ssin

g en

viro

nmen

tal b

iose

curi

ty

risks

thro

ugh

a co

mm

unity

edu

catio

n an

d su

rvei

llanc

e pr

ogra

m to

bui

ld fr

ontli

ne

defe

nce

agai

nst n

ew a

nd e

xist

ing

land

and

m

arin

e in

fest

atio

ns.



TAB

LE B

1 A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t res

pons

e to

Sen

ate

inqu

iry

reco

mm

enda

tions

and

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

to F

ebru

ary

2019

Sena

te in

quir

y re

com

men

dati

ons

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent

resp

onse

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

Rec

omm

enda

tion

12:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at th

e D

epar

tmen

t of I

ndus

try,

Inno

vatio

n an

d Sc

ienc

e de

velo

p a

stra

tegy

to a

ddre

ss th

e cu

rren

t, an

d pr

ojec

ted,

dec

line

in th

e le

vel

of s

cien

tific

expe

rtis

e in

are

as re

leva

nt to

bi

osec

urity

.

Supp

orte

d in

pri

ncip

le

In S

epte

mbe

r 20

14, A

ustr

alia

’s C

hief

Sci

entis

t rel

ease

d Sc

ienc

e, te

chno

logy

, eng

inee

ring

and

mat

hem

atic

s: A

ustr

alia

’s

futu

re, w

hich

mad

e 24

reco

mm

enda

tions

in th

e ar

eas

of A

ustr

alia

n co

mpe

titiv

enes

s, e

duca

tion

and

trai

ning

, res

earc

h,

and

inte

rnat

iona

l eng

agem

ent.

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent h

as a

lread

y ta

ken

actio

ns to

add

ress

man

y of

the

area

s hi

ghlig

hted

for a

tten

tion,

thro

ugh

the

Nat

iona

l Inn

ovat

ion

and

Scie

nce

Age

nda,

ann

ounc

ed D

ecem

ber 2

015

.

As

part

of t

he N

atio

nal I

nnov

atio

n an

d Sc

ienc

e A

gend

a, th

e A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t has

add

ress

ed m

any

of th

ese

issu

es. T

his

incl

udes

fund

ing

to g

et s

tude

nts

mor

e ex

cite

d by

sci

ence

, for

exa

mpl

e th

roug

h sc

ienc

e an

d m

athe

mat

ics

Oly

mpi

ads,

Mak

er p

roje

cts,

att

enda

nce

at s

cien

ce e

vent

s an

d co

mpe

titio

ns, a

nd s

uppo

rtin

g N

atio

nal S

cien

ce W

eek.

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent i

s co

mm

itted

to e

nsur

ing

Aus

tral

ia c

ontin

ues

to d

evel

op a

nd s

uppo

rt s

cien

tific

expe

rtis

e in

ar

eas

rele

vant

to b

iose

curi

ty. F

or e

xam

ple,

the

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent h

as c

omm

itted

$20

mill

ion

over

five

yea

rs, f

rom

1

July

20

17, t

o bo

ost r

esea

rch

and

deve

lopm

ent a

imed

at e

radi

catin

g in

vasi

ve p

est s

peci

es b

y su

ppor

ting

the

tran

sitio

n of

th

e In

vasi

ve A

nim

als

Coop

erat

ive

Rese

arch

Cen

tre

into

the

Cent

re fo

r Inv

asiv

e Sp

ecie

s So

lutio

ns in

20

17.

–



TAB

LE B

1 A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t res

pons

e to

Sen

ate

inqu

iry

reco

mm

enda

tions

and

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

to F

ebru

ary

2019

Sena

te in

quir

y re

com

men

dati

ons

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent

resp

onse

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

Rec

omm

enda

tion

13:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at th

e D

epar

tmen

t of I

ndus

try,

Inno

vatio

n an

d Sc

ienc

e, in

coo

pera

tion

with

the

Dep

artm

ent

of A

gric

ultu

re a

nd th

e D

epar

tmen

t of t

he

Envi

ronm

ent,

cond

uct a

revi

ew to

prio

ritis

e A

ustr

alia

's b

iose

curi

ty re

sear

ch n

eeds

, bot

h en

viro

nmen

tal a

nd in

dust

ry-f

ocus

ed, a

nd

dete

rmin

e w

hat l

ong-

term

inst

itutio

nal

stru

ctur

e w

ill b

est a

ddre

ss th

ese

need

s.

The

com

mitt

ee a

lso

reco

mm

ends

that

this

re

view

spe

cific

ally

inve

stig

ate

whe

ther

A

ustr

alia

pos

sess

es s

uffici

ent r

esea

rch

capa

city

to e

xam

ine

the

effec

ts o

f clim

ate

chan

ge o

n in

vasi

ve s

peci

es a

nd, i

f not

, how

th

is c

an b

e ad

dres

sed.

Supp

orte

d in

pri

ncip

le

Ther

e ar

e a

num

ber o

f Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent i

nitia

tives

that

incl

ude

revi

ew p

roce

sses

to p

riori

tise

rese

arch

, inc

ludi

ng

rese

arch

cap

acity

and

rese

arch

to e

xam

ine

of th

e eff

ects

of c

limat

e va

riabi

lity.

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent h

as

esta

blis

hed

a se

t of s

cien

ce a

nd re

sear

ch p

riori

ties

and

asso

ciat

ed p

ract

ical

rese

arch

cha

lleng

es. T

he p

riori

ties

have

be

en im

plem

ente

d by

the

Nat

iona

l Sci

ence

, Tec

hnol

ogy

and

Rese

arch

Com

mitt

ee o

f the

Com

mon

wea

lth S

cien

ce

Coun

cil,

led

by th

e Ch

ief S

cien

tist,

Dr A

lan

Fink

el A

O, a

nd c

onsi

dere

d in

put f

rom

rese

arch

ers,

indu

stry

lead

ers

and

gove

rnm

ent r

epre

sent

ativ

es.

The

scie

nce

and

rese

arch

prio

ritie

s ar

e: fo

od; s

oil a

nd w

ater

; tra

nspo

rt; c

yber

sec

urity

; ene

rgy;

reso

urce

s; a

dvan

ced

man

ufac

turin

g; e

nviro

nmen

tal c

hang

e; a

nd h

ealth

. The

se p

riori

ties

will

like

ly a

ddre

ss m

any

area

s re

leva

nt to

bio

secu

rity

an

d cl

imat

e va

riabi

lity,

par

ticul

arly

thro

ugh

the

food

, soi

l and

wat

er a

nd e

nviro

nmen

tal c

hang

e pr

iori

ties.

The

Dep

artm

ent o

f the

Env

ironm

ent a

nd E

nerg

y ad

min

iste

rs th

e N

atio

nal E

nviro

nmen

tal S

cien

ce P

rogr

amm

e (N

ESP)

, w

hich

fund

s w

orld

-cla

ss e

nviro

nmen

tal a

nd c

limat

e sc

ienc

e re

sear

ch to

info

rm d

ecis

ion-

mak

ing.

The

NES

P is

del

iver

ed th

roug

h si

x m

ultid

isci

plin

ary

hubs

, eac

h w

ith d

istin

ct re

sear

ch o

bjec

tives

. Res

earc

h th

emes

in

clud

e th

reat

ened

spe

cies

reco

very

, clim

ate

chan

ge, t

he s

usta

inab

le d

evel

opm

ent o

f nor

ther

n A

ustr

alia

, mar

ine

biod

iver

sity

, wat

er q

ualit

y in

the

Gre

at B

arrie

r Ree

f, an

d ai

r qua

lity

and

livea

bilit

y in

urb

an la

ndsc

apes

.

The

NES

P en

cour

ages

a c

olla

bora

tive

appr

oach

to d

evel

opin

g an

d de

liver

ing

rese

arch

obj

ectiv

es. O

ver t

he s

ix y

ears

of

the

NES

P, th

e D

epar

tmen

t of t

he E

nviro

nmen

t and

Ene

rgy

will

wor

k w

ith th

e M

inis

ter f

or th

e En

viro

nmen

t and

Ene

rgy

to d

eter

min

e re

sear

ch p

riori

ties

for N

ESP

hubs

to g

uide

ann

ual u

pdat

es o

f the

Hub

Res

earc

h Pl

ans.

Inpu

t will

als

o be

sou

ght f

rom

oth

er g

over

nmen

t dep

artm

ents

, lev

els

of g

over

nmen

t, en

viro

nmen

t non

-gov

ernm

ent o

rgan

isat

ions

, In

dige

nous

gro

ups

and

indu

stry

in d

evel

opin

g th

eir H

ub R

esea

rch

Plan

s.

A r

ange

of A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t res

earc

h in

itiat

ives

info

rm b

iose

curi

ty m

anag

emen

t and

nat

ural

reso

urce

m

anag

emen

t thr

ough

clim

ate

proj

ectio

ns, r

esea

rch

on c

limat

e va

riabi

lity

impa

cts

and

mod

ellin

g of

the

pote

ntia

l di

strib

utio

n of

exo

tic p

ests

. CSI

RO is

est

ablis

hing

a n

ew C

limat

e Sc

ienc

e Ce

ntre

to b

e ba

sed

in H

obar

t; a

new

dec

adal

cl

imat

e m

onito

ring

and

fore

cast

ing

capa

city

with

in th

e ne

w H

obar

t Cen

tre,

whi

ch re

pres

ents

a $

37 m

illio

n in

vest

men

t ov

er 1

0 y

ears

, and

15

new

pos

ition

s w

ithin

the

new

CSI

RO C

limat

e Sc

ienc

e Ce

ntre

, whi

ch re

pres

ents

an

incr

ease

on

curr

ent s

taffi

ng le

vels

of a

ppro

xim

atel

y 13

per

cen

t. Th

e ce

ntre

will

brin

g to

geth

er th

e co

re o

f CSI

RO’s

cap

abili

ty in

cl

imat

e m

odel

ling

and

obse

rvat

ions

of t

he a

tmos

pher

e an

d oc

ean.

It is

bei

ng d

evel

oped

in c

lose

col

labo

ratio

n w

ith

exis

ting

rese

arch

pro

gram

s an

d w

ith re

sear

ch p

artn

ers

incl

udin

g th

e Bu

reau

of M

eteo

rolo

gy, A

ustr

alia

n un

iver

sitie

s an

d ov

erse

as in

stitu

tions

. The

pro

ject

ions

are

the

mos

t com

preh

ensi

ve e

ver r

elea

sed

for A

ustr

alia

and

wer

e pr

epar

ed w

ith

an e

mph

asis

on

info

rmin

g im

pact

ass

essm

ents

and

pla

nnin

g in

the

natu

ral r

esou

rce

man

agem

ent s

ecto

r.

The

Aus

tral

ian

Inst

itute

of M

arin

e Sc

ienc

e (A

IMS)

, Aus

tral

ia’s

trop

ical

mar

ine

scie

nce

agen

cy, o

pera

tes

mon

itorin

g pr

ogra

ms

cont

ribut

ing

to th

e su

stai

nabl

e us

e an

d de

velo

pmen

t of t

he tr

opic

al m

arin

e en

viro

nmen

t. Fo

r exa

mpl

e,

AIM

S ha

s th

e on

ly lo

ng-t

erm

, com

preh

ensi

ve d

atas

et c

over

ing

the

heal

th o

f the

Gre

at B

arrie

r Ree

f, sp

anni

ng th

ree

deca

des

and

incl

udin

g m

onito

ring

of re

ef o

rgan

ism

s an

d en

viro

nmen

tal m

onito

ring

of w

ater

qua

lity,

wea

ther

and

se

a te

mpe

ratu

res.

AIM

S al

so u

nder

take

s in

terd

isci

plin

ary

rese

arch

to p

rovi

de m

anag

ers

and

polic

ymak

ers

with

the

best

und

erst

andi

ng o

f the

vul

nera

bilit

y of

trop

ical

mar

ine

ecos

yste

ms

to c

limat

e ch

ange

, oce

an a

cidi

ficat

ion

and

loca

l en

viro

nmen

tal s

tres

sors

. Its

Nat

iona

l Sea

Sim

ulat

or (S

eaSi

m) a

lso

play

s a

key

rese

arch

role

by

repl

icat

ing

futu

re c

limat

e sc

enar

ios

to b

ette

r und

erst

and

the

impa

ct o

f com

plex

env

ironm

enta

l cha

nges

on

trop

ical

mar

ine

ecos

yste

ms.

ABA

RES

has

dev

elop

ed C

limat

ch, a

web

-bas

ed a

pplic

atio

n fo

r com

parin

g cl

imat

e ch

arac

teris

tics

betw

een

regi

ons.

Th

is p

rogr

am is

typ

ical

ly u

sed

for p

redi

ctin

g th

e po

tent

ial s

prea

d of

intr

oduc

ed o

r inv

asiv

e sp

ecie

s by

usi

ng k

now

n ge

ogra

phic

dis

trib

utio

ns o

f exo

tic p

ests

and

dis

ease

s to

mod

el p

oten

tial d

istr

ibut

ion

in A

ustr

alia

bas

ed o

n cl

imat

ic

para

met

ers

(tem

pera

ture

, rai

nfal

l). T

he M

ulti-

Crite

ria A

naly

sis

Shel

l for

Spa

tial D

ecis

ion

Supp

ort (

MC

AS-

S) is

ano

ther

so

ftw

are

and

map

ping

pac

kage

dev

elop

ed b

y A

BAR

ES th

at p

rovi

des

a po

wer

ful t

ool f

or s

patia

l inf

orm

atio

n as

sess

men

t in

dec

isio

n-m

akin

g co

ntex

ts. C

limat

ch a

nd M

CA

S-S

can

be c

ombi

ned

in a

pre

pare

dnes

s co

ntex

t to

mod

el th

e po

tent

ial

dist

ribut

ion

of e

xotic

pes

ts, b

ased

on

clim

atic

and

land

use

dat

a.

–



TAB

LE B

1 A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t res

pons

e to

Sen

ate

inqu

iry

reco

mm

enda

tions

and

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

to F

ebru

ary

2019

Sena

te in

quir

y re

com

men

dati

ons

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent

resp

onse

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

Rec

omm

enda

tion

14

:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at,

follo

win

g th

e ex

ampl

e of

the

New

Zea

land

M

arin

e In

vasi

ve T

axon

omic

Ser

vice

, the

Co

mm

onw

ealth

Gov

ernm

ent w

ork

with

st

ate

and

terr

itory

gov

ernm

ents

to e

stab

lish

a co

ordi

nate

d ta

xono

mic

iden

tifica

tion

serv

ice

that

util

ises

exi

stin

g sc

ient

ific

expe

rtis

e, p

artic

ular

ly th

at p

rese

nt in

nat

ural

hi

stor

y m

useu

ms.

Not

ed

Taxo

nom

ic s

ervi

ces

are

curr

ently

pro

vide

d on

an

ad h

oc b

asis

by

stat

e an

d te

rrito

ry m

useu

ms,

uni

vers

ities

and

in

depe

nden

t exp

erts

.

The

Aus

tral

ian

Biol

ogic

al R

esou

rces

Stu

dy, a

dmin

iste

red

by th

e D

epar

tmen

t of t

he E

nviro

nmen

t and

Ene

rgy,

has

co

ordi

nate

d ta

xono

mic

rese

arch

in A

ustr

alia

for m

ore

than

40

yea

rs a

nd is

a re

cogn

ised

wor

ld le

ader

in m

akin

g au

thor

itativ

e ta

xono

mic

info

rmat

ion

wid

ely

avai

labl

e th

roug

h in

tern

atio

nally

reco

gnis

ed s

cien

tific

publ

icat

ions

, id

entifi

catio

n to

ols

and

publ

icly

acc

essi

ble

onlin

e bi

odiv

ersi

ty in

form

atio

n da

taba

ses.

The

Dep

artm

ent o

f Agr

icul

ture

and

Wat

er R

esou

rces

rece

ntly

con

duct

ed a

revi

ew o

f Nat

iona

l Mar

ine

Pest

Bio

secu

rity

ar

rang

emen

ts, w

hich

con

side

red

inpu

t fro

m a

ran

ge o

f sta

keho

lder

s. S

ome

stak

ehol

ders

exp

ress

ed th

e ne

ed

for a

coo

rdin

ated

app

roac

h to

mar

ine

pest

taxo

nom

y. T

he re

view

repo

rt a

nd re

com

men

datio

ns a

re a

vaila

ble

at

agric

ultu

re.g

ov.a

u.

The

revi

ew m

ade

a nu

mbe

r of r

ecom

men

datio

ns to

war

d a

new

focu

s on

pre

vent

ion

activ

ities

, suc

h as

bet

ter

rela

tions

hips

bet

wee

n re

sear

cher

s, m

arin

e ba

sed

indu

strie

s, g

over

nmen

t and

the

com

mun

ity. I

t als

o re

com

men

ds th

e de

velo

pmen

t of s

tron

ger r

espo

nse

arra

ngem

ents

for d

ealin

g w

ith in

curs

ions

.

The

reco

mm

enda

tions

will

be

impl

emen

ted

over

20

15–1

8. T

his

wor

k w

ill in

volv

e w

orki

ng c

lose

ly w

ith s

take

hold

ers

to s

tren

gthe

n na

tiona

l mar

ine

pest

bio

secu

rity

arr

ange

men

ts to

redu

ce th

e ris

k of

mar

ine

pest

s fr

om e

stab

lishi

ng in

A

ustr

alia

n w

ater

s.

–

Rec

omm

enda

tion

15:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at th

e D

epar

tmen

t of A

gric

ultu

re u

nder

take

en

forc

emen

t act

iviti

es a

gain

st in

tern

et

reta

ilers

and

mar

ketp

lace

s th

at re

peat

edly

br

each

Aus

tral

ia's

pla

nt a

nd s

eed

impo

rt

requ

irem

ents

and

wor

k w

ith th

ese

busi

ness

es to

ens

ure

war

ning

s ar

e di

spla

yed

whe

n cu

stom

ers

atte

mpt

to p

urch

ase

proh

ibite

d pl

ants

and

see

ds.

Supp

orte

d in

pri

ncip

le

Und

er A

ustr

alia

’s B

iose

curi

ty A

ct, t

he A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t’s re

gula

tory

(enf

orce

men

t) re

ach

only

ext

ends

to

Aus

tral

ian-

base

d en

titie

s. T

he A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t has

a v

ery

limite

d ab

ility

to ta

ke e

nfor

cem

ent a

ctio

n ag

ains

t en

titie

s th

at o

pera

te b

eyon

d th

e A

ustr

alia

n ju

risdi

ctio

n. G

ener

ally

enf

orce

men

t act

ion

in p

lace

s ou

tsid

e of

Aus

tral

ia c

an

only

be

achi

eved

thro

ugh

requ

ests

for m

utua

l ass

ista

nce

via

the

Att

orne

y-G

ener

al’s

Dep

artm

ent.

The

Dep

artm

ent o

f Agr

icul

ture

and

Wat

er R

esou

rces

cur

rent

ly u

ses

coop

erat

ive

arra

ngem

ents

with

a n

umbe

r of

com

mon

inte

rnet

mar

ketp

lace

s w

here

war

ning

s ar

e pu

blis

hed

whe

n A

ustr

alia

n pu

rcha

sers

att

empt

to b

uy it

ems

of

bios

ecur

ity c

once

rn.

It is

not

pos

sibl

e to

ach

ieve

suc

h co

oper

ativ

e ar

rang

emen

ts w

ith a

ll in

tern

et m

arke

tpla

ces

due

to th

e nu

mbe

r and

lack

of

vis

ibili

ty o

f suc

h m

arke

tpla

ces,

and

as

a re

sult

thes

e ap

proa

ches

oft

en h

ave

only

par

tial e

ffect

. At t

he re

ques

t of t

he

Dep

artm

ent o

f Agr

icul

ture

and

Wat

er R

esou

rces

, eBa

y A

ustr

alia

has

clo

sed

dow

n a

num

ber o

f sel

lers

of b

iose

curi

ty r

isk

prod

ucts

. Thi

s do

es n

ot s

top

selle

rs re

-ope

ning

on

othe

r site

s or

und

er n

ew id

entit

ies.

The

Dep

artm

ent o

f Agr

icul

ture

and

Wat

er R

esou

rces

als

o us

es a

com

bina

tion

of a

ltern

ativ

e m

easu

res

to im

prov

e co

mpl

ianc

e an

d m

inim

ise

the

inci

denc

e of

ris

k ite

ms

sold

via

inte

rnet

mar

ketp

lace

s pa

ssin

g th

roug

h th

e A

ustr

alia

n bo

rder

. Thi

s in

clud

es in

form

atio

n sh

arin

g be

twee

n A

ustr

alia

and

fore

ign

juris

dict

ions

thro

ugh

the

Inte

rnat

iona

l Pla

nt

Prot

ectio

n Co

nven

tion

netw

ork

and

the

impr

oved

use

d of

inte

llige

nce

and

targ

etin

g of

kno

wn

offen

ders

.

The

Dep

artm

ent o

f Agr

icul

ture

and

Wat

er R

esou

rces

rece

ntly

com

plet

ed a

revi

ew o

f cur

rent

mai

l pat

hway

‘pro

files

’. Th

e de

part

men

t use

s ‘p

rofil

es’ t

o de

term

ine

risk

path

way

s an

d m

anag

e in

terv

entio

n pr

actic

es. A

s a

resu

lt of

the

revi

ew,

upda

ted

pass

enge

r pro

files

hav

e be

en im

plem

ente

d an

d a

perio

dic

revi

ew w

ill b

e co

nduc

ted

at a

ppro

pria

te in

terv

als.

Agr

icul

ture

use

s co

oper

ativ

e ar

rang

emen

ts w

ith

a nu

mbe

r of c

omm

on in

tern

et m

arke

tpla

ces

whe

re w

arni

ngs

are

publ

ishe

d w

hen

Aus

tral

ian

purc

hase

rs a

ttem

pt to

buy

item

s of

bi

osec

urity

con

cern

.

This

incl

udes

info

rmat

ion

shar

ing

betw

een

Aus

tral

ia a

nd fo

reig

n ju

risdi

ctio

ns th

roug

h th

e In

tern

atio

nal P

lant

Pro

tect

ion

Conv

entio

n ne

twor

k an

d th

e im

prov

ed u

sed

of in

telli

genc

e an

d ta

rget

ing

of k

now

n off

ende

rs.



TAB

LE B

1 A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t res

pons

e to

Sen

ate

inqu

iry

reco

mm

enda

tions

and

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

to F

ebru

ary

2019

Sena

te in

quir

y re

com

men

dati

ons

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent

resp

onse

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

Rec

omm

enda

tion

16:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at th

e D

epar

tmen

t of t

he E

nviro

nmen

t wor

k to

en

sure

that

the

mea

sure

s de

scrib

ed in

the

Tram

p A

nt T

hrea

t Aba

tem

ent P

lan

are

fully

im

plem

ente

d.

Supp

orte

d

The

2012

revi

ew o

f the

tram

p an

t TA

P id

entifi

ed s

ix fu

lly im

plem

ente

d ac

tions

in th

e pl

an; t

he re

mai

ning

nin

e ha

ve b

een

part

ially

impl

emen

ted.

The

TA

P w

as s

unse

t on

1 O

ctob

er 2

016

and

the

Min

iste

r for

the

Envi

ronm

ent a

nd E

nerg

y w

ill

cons

ider

whe

ther

a n

ew T

AP

shou

ld b

e m

ade.

Each

fina

ncia

l yea

r, th

e A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t fun

ds T

AP

deve

lopm

ent a

nd im

plem

enta

tion

as p

art o

f a b

road

er b

udge

t ou

tcom

e re

late

d to

bio

dive

rsity

con

serv

atio

n. T

he fu

ndin

g pr

ovid

ed b

y th

e D

epar

tmen

t of t

he E

nviro

nmen

t and

Ene

rgy

for t

he im

plem

enta

tion

of in

divi

dual

TA

Ps m

ay v

ary

from

yea

r to

year

as

a ra

nge

of b

iodi

vers

ity c

onse

rvat

ion

prio

ritie

s ar

e ad

dres

sed.

–

Rec

omm

enda

tion

17:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at, w

ithin

th

e ne

xt 1

2 m

onth

s, th

e D

epar

tmen

t of

Agr

icul

ture

revi

ew it

s ca

rgo

surv

eilla

nce

mea

sure

s w

ith th

e ai

m o

f ach

ievi

ng b

ette

r de

tect

ion

rate

s of

inva

sive

spe

cies

in g

ener

al

and

of tr

amp

ants

in p

artic

ular

.

Supp

orte

d in

pri

ncip

le

To e

nsur

e th

at o

ngoi

ng a

ctiv

ities

are

targ

eted

to a

reas

of r

isk,

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Agr

icul

ture

and

Wat

er R

esou

rces

ag

rees

that

ther

e is

val

ue in

revi

ewin

g th

e br

oad

surv

eilla

nce

appr

oach

at t

he b

orde

r (no

t jus

t lim

ited

to c

argo

) to

cons

ider

the

type

s of

pes

ts to

be

targ

eted

, the

tim

es a

nd te

rms

of s

urve

illan

ce, t

he p

oten

tial f

or a

dditi

onal

off-

shor

e su

rvei

llanc

e an

d th

e be

st fo

rm o

f dat

a ca

ptur

e (a

nd s

harin

g).

This

revi

ew w

ill c

onsi

der s

peci

fic g

roup

s of

pes

ts, p

lant

dis

ease

s an

d w

eeds

whi

ch w

ill in

fluen

ce d

ecis

ion-

mak

ing

for e

ffect

ive

surv

eilla

nce

met

hods

at s

peci

fic lo

catio

ns th

roug

hout

the

year

and

will

be

ongo

ing.

It w

ill a

lso

cons

ider

ge

nera

l and

targ

eted

sur

veill

ance

act

iviti

es u

nder

take

n by

the

stat

es a

nd te

rrito

ries;

obl

igat

ions

und

er th

e IG

AB;

and

th

e A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t’s ro

le in

und

erta

king

sur

veill

ance

act

iviti

es a

t pre

mis

es o

pera

ting

unde

r an

appr

oved

ar

rang

emen

t and

/or g

over

nmen

t-ow

ned

and

oper

ated

land

and

faci

litie

s.

The

Dep

artm

ent o

f Agr

icul

ture

and

Wat

er R

esou

rces

has

dev

elop

ed a

Nat

iona

l Bor

der S

urve

illan

ce P

olic

y (N

BS) t

o en

sure

coo

rdin

atio

n of

bio

secu

rity

sur

veill

ance

act

iviti

es c

ondu

cted

at b

orde

r loc

atio

ns, a

nd e

stab

lish

prin

cipl

es fo

r un

dert

akin

g th

ese

surv

eilla

nce

activ

ities

. As

NBS

is b

roug

ht in

to e

ffect

, the

re w

ill b

e th

ree

mai

n pr

oduc

ts. T

hese

are

:

• a

list o

f prio

ritie

s fo

r bor

der s

urve

illan

ce

• a

desc

riptio

n of

rela

tive

effor

ts to

war

ds e

ach

prio

rity

• re

sour

cing

for s

peci

fic s

urve

illan

ce a

ctiv

ities

.

The

purp

ose

of N

BS is

to fa

cilit

ate

the

timel

y de

tect

ion

of o

ppor

tuni

stic

or h

itchh

ikin

g pe

sts

that

mig

ht h

ave

ente

red

Aus

tral

ia o

n im

port

pat

hway

s an

d pr

esen

t on

land

s or

at f

acili

ties

that

are

in th

e br

oad

sens

e pa

rt o

f the

Aus

tral

ian

bord

er. T

he in

form

atio

n co

llect

ed w

ill b

e us

ed to

:

• en

able

a ti

mel

y re

spon

se to

a p

oten

tial i

ncur

sion

and

est

ablis

hmen

t eve

nt

• pr

ovid

e pe

rfor

man

ce in

form

atio

n an

d fe

edba

ck o

n qu

aran

tine

path

way

s

• m

onito

r tre

nds

in a

rriv

al/e

scap

e of

bio

secu

rity

ris

k

• m

onito

r cha

nges

to tr

ends

in re

spec

tive

air a

nd s

ea p

athw

ays

to in

form

bus

ines

s im

prov

emen

t and

NBS

del

iber

atio

n

• id

entif

y es

tabl

ishe

d sp

ecie

s in

spe

cific

env

ironm

ents

as

a ba

selin

e

• as

sist

in ta

rget

ing

and

prio

ritis

ing

post

-bor

der s

urve

illan

ce a

ctiv

ities

.

Agr

icul

ture

has

dev

elop

ed a

Nat

iona

l Bor

der

Surv

eilla

nce

Polic

y (N

BS) t

o en

sure

coo

rdin

atio

n of

bio

secu

rity

sur

veill

ance

act

iviti

es c

ondu

cted

at

bor

der l

ocat

ions

, and

est

ablis

h pr

inci

ples

for

unde

rtak

ing

thes

e su

rvei

llanc

e ac

tiviti

es.



TAB

LE B

1 A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t res

pons

e to

Sen

ate

inqu

iry

reco

mm

enda

tions

and

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

to F

ebru

ary

2019

Sena

te in

quir

y re

com

men

dati

ons

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent

resp

onse

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

Rec

omm

enda

tion

17

(con

tinu

ed):

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at, w

ithin

th

e ne

xt 1

2 m

onth

s, th

e D

epar

tmen

t of

Agr

icul

ture

revi

ew it

s ca

rgo

surv

eilla

nce

mea

sure

s w

ith th

e ai

m o

f ach

ievi

ng b

ette

r de

tect

ion

rate

s of

inva

sive

spe

cies

in g

ener

al

and

of tr

amp

ants

in p

artic

ular

.

Initi

al w

ork

is fo

cuse

d on

bor

der m

anag

emen

t (fir

st p

oint

s of

ent

ry) a

ctiv

ities

but

will

then

ext

end

into

an

inte

grat

ed

offsh

ore,

ons

hore

and

at b

orde

r sur

veill

ance

pro

gram

. Inv

olve

men

t of s

tate

and

terr

itory

gov

ernm

ents

will

con

tinue

to

be a

n im

port

ant c

ompo

nent

of a

n eff

ectiv

e an

d in

tegr

ated

sur

veill

ance

app

roac

h an

d is

an

ongo

ing

poin

t of d

iscu

ssio

n th

roug

h th

e N

BC.

The

Dep

artm

ent o

f Agr

icul

ture

and

Wat

er R

esou

rces

per

form

s a

rang

e of

act

iviti

es d

esig

ned

to m

inim

ise

the

likel

ihoo

d of

an

incu

rsio

n of

exo

tic p

ests

and

dis

ease

s. T

he d

epar

tmen

t’s b

iose

curi

ty a

ctiv

ities

incl

ude

insp

ectio

ns o

f im

port

ed

com

mod

ities

for t

he p

rese

nce

of b

iose

curi

ty r

isks

com

mon

ly a

ssoc

iate

d w

ith th

ose

com

mod

ities

—an

d su

rvei

llanc

e of

ve

ssel

s, a

ircra

ft, c

argo

and

pla

ces

for h

itchh

iker

pes

ts th

at a

re n

ot s

peci

fical

ly a

ssoc

iate

d w

ith a

n im

port

com

mod

ity.

Curr

ent s

urve

illan

ce a

ctiv

ities

con

duct

ed b

y th

e D

epar

tmen

t of A

gric

ultu

re a

nd W

ater

Res

ourc

es ta

ke s

ever

al fo

rms

and

incl

udes

vis

ual s

urve

illan

ce ta

rget

ing

loca

tions

or a

rriv

al p

athw

ays

whe

re im

port

ed c

argo

is h

andl

ed, s

tore

d or

un

pack

ed, r

athe

r tha

n ta

rget

ing

part

icul

ar o

rgan

ism

s or

typ

es o

f bio

secu

rity

ris

k.

Spec

ialis

t sur

veill

ance

act

iviti

es a

re c

ondu

cted

in N

orth

ern

Aus

tral

ia u

nder

NA

QS

whe

re p

roxi

mity

to In

done

sia

and

Papu

a N

ew G

uine

a, s

pars

e se

ttle

men

t and

a tr

opic

al e

nviro

nmen

t nec

essi

tate

spe

cial

sur

veill

ance

act

iviti

es th

at t

ypic

ally

ex

tend

wel

l bey

ond

port

are

as.

The

Dep

artm

ent o

f Agr

icul

ture

and

Wat

er R

esou

rces

use

s ve

ctor

mon

itorin

g (t

raps

or l

ures

) to

dete

ct th

e pr

esen

ce o

f sp

ecifi

c pe

st t

ypes

—at

airp

orts

, sea

port

s, c

onta

iner

term

inal

s an

d pr

emis

es o

pera

ting

unde

r app

rove

d ar

rang

emen

ts—

incl

udin

g ex

tens

ive

mos

quito

trap

ping

con

duct

ed in

col

labo

ratio

n w

ith th

e D

epar

tmen

t of H

ealth

.

Surv

eilla

nce

activ

ities

to ta

rget

var

ious

pes

ts m

ay a

lso

diffe

r bet

wee

n re

gion

s. S

ome

of th

e di

fferin

g ap

proa

ches

ar

ise

from

low

er le

vels

of r

isk

asso

ciat

ed w

ith th

e va

rious

pes

ts in

eac

h lo

catio

n (A

sian

Gyp

sy M

oths

are

not

trap

ped

at D

arw

in p

ort,

for i

nsta

nce,

as

Dar

win

is n

ot a

ris

k po

rt d

ue to

the

inco

mpa

tible

env

ironm

ent)

or f

rom

low

er r

isks

as

soci

ated

with

the

part

icul

ar p

athw

ay(s

) spe

cific

to e

ach

loca

tion.

Stat

e de

part

men

ts o

f agr

icul

ture

and

/or h

ealth

als

o co

nduc

t sur

veill

ance

for a

var

iety

of o

rgan

ism

s, b

oth

in p

ort a

reas

an

d m

ore

broa

dly.

The

Dep

artm

ent o

f Agr

icul

ture

and

Wat

er R

esou

rces

has

pro

vide

d fu

ndin

g fo

r sta

te d

epar

tmen

ts

of a

gric

ultu

re to

del

iver

som

e of

thes

e ac

tiviti

es (f

or e

xam

ple,

a tr

appi

ng p

rogr

am fo

r Asi

an G

ypsy

Mot

h an

d ex

otic

fr

uit fl

ies

near

firs

t poi

nts

of e

ntry

). O

ngoi

ng li

aiso

n be

twee

n th

e D

epar

tmen

t of A

gric

ultu

re a

nd W

ater

Res

ourc

es a

nd

stat

e an

d te

rrito

ry a

genc

ies

resp

onsi

ble

for b

iose

curi

ty e

nsur

es e

ffect

ive

reso

urci

ng, t

rap

plac

emen

t and

redu

ctio

n in

dup

licat

ion.



TAB

LE B

1 A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t res

pons

e to

Sen

ate

inqu

iry

reco

mm

enda

tions

and

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

to F

ebru

ary

2019

Sena

te in

quir

y re

com

men

dati

ons

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent

resp

onse

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

Rec

omm

enda

tion

18:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at th

e Co

mm

onw

ealth

Gov

ernm

ent w

ork

with

st

ate

and

terr

itory

gov

ernm

ents

, and

the

hort

icul

ture

indu

stry

, on

esta

blis

hing

st

anda

rdis

ed la

belli

ng, w

eed

iden

tifica

tion,

an

d sa

les

trac

king

pro

toco

ls a

cros

s th

e in

dust

ry.

Supp

orte

d

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts

this

reco

mm

enda

tion,

not

ing

that

dom

estic

trad

e re

quire

men

ts a

re a

sta

te

and

terr

itory

gov

ernm

ent r

espo

nsib

ility

. The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent a

ctiv

ely

supp

orts

har

mon

isat

ion

of in

ters

tate

tr

ade

prot

ocol

s fo

r pla

nts

and

plan

t pro

duct

s th

roug

h a

subc

omm

ittee

of t

he n

atio

nal P

HC—

the

Subc

omm

ittee

on

Dom

estic

Qua

rant

ine

and

Mar

ket A

cces

s, w

hich

is th

e na

tiona

l gov

ernm

ent g

roup

with

resp

onsi

bilit

y fo

r int

erst

ate

trad

e ar

rang

emen

ts.

The

abili

ty to

app

ropr

iate

ly id

entif

y an

d tr

ace

hort

icul

tura

l pro

duct

s th

roug

h th

e su

pply

cha

in is

ess

entia

l. So

me

mec

hani

sms

alre

ady

exis

t and

are

inte

grat

ed in

to e

mer

genc

y re

spon

se a

rran

gem

ents

and

exi

stin

g pr

ogra

ms

such

as

the

Nur

sery

and

Gar

den

Indu

stry

Aus

tral

ia B

iose

cure

HA

CCP

(Haz

ard

Ana

lysi

s Cr

itica

l Con

trol

Poi

nt)

initi

ativ

e. T

he A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t will

con

tinue

to w

ork

with

oth

er g

over

nmen

ts a

nd in

dust

ry to

str

engt

hen

thes

e m

echa

nism

s.

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent a

pplie

s an

inte

grat

ed n

atio

nal a

ppro

ach

to th

e pr

even

tion

and

man

agem

ent o

f iss

ues

asso

ciat

ed w

ith w

eeds

thro

ugh

its p

artic

ipat

ion

in th

e In

vasi

ve P

lant

s an

d A

nim

als

Com

mitt

ee (I

PAC)

. The

IPA

C ov

erse

es

the

impl

emen

tatio

n of

the

Wee

ds o

f Nat

iona

l Sig

nific

ance

(W

oNS)

initi

ativ

e, th

e A

ustr

alia

n W

eeds

Str

ateg

y (A

WS)

and

th

e N

atio

nal I

nvas

ive

Plan

ts S

urve

illan

ce F

ram

ewor

k (N

IPSF

).

The

WoN

S in

itiat

ive

coor

dina

tes

natio

nal e

ffort

aga

inst

32

of A

ustr

alia

’s in

vasi

ve p

lant

s. It

ben

efits

Aus

tral

ia b

y in

crea

sing

ac

cess

ibili

ty to

wee

d in

form

atio

n an

d st

reng

then

ing

netw

orks

from

nat

iona

l to

loca

l lev

els

to in

crea

se th

e sh

arin

g of

in

form

atio

n, e

xper

ienc

es a

nd re

sour

ces

as w

ell a

s re

gula

tory

con

sist

ency

.

The

AWS

is th

e na

tiona

l str

ateg

y fo

r wee

d m

anag

emen

t in

Aus

tral

ia. F

ollo

win

g a

revi

ew o

f it i

n 20

12, a

new

wee

d st

rate

gy h

as b

een

deve

lope

d by

IPA

C an

d w

as e

ndor

sed

by N

BC o

n 7

June

20

17.

The

NIP

SF a

ims

to in

crea

se A

ustr

alia

’s p

ost b

orde

r cap

abili

ty fo

r ear

ly d

etec

tion

of, a

nd r

apid

resp

onse

to, n

ew in

vasi

ve

plan

t inc

ursi

ons

and

rang

e ex

pans

ions

of e

xist

ing

plan

ts. T

he IP

AC

is c

urre

ntly

dev

elop

ing

an im

plem

enta

tion

plan

for

the

NIP

SF.

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent a

lso

wor

ks w

ith th

e A

tlas

of L

ivin

g A

ustr

alia

web

site

, whi

ch p

ublis

hes

wee

d in

form

atio

n an

d a

wee

d id

entifi

catio

n to

ol.

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent i

s co

mm

itted

to w

orki

ng w

ith s

tate

and

terr

itory

gov

ernm

ents

and

the

hort

icul

ture

indu

stry

to

har

mon

ise

wee

d id

entifi

catio

n an

d sa

les

trac

king

pro

toco

ls a

cros

s th

e in

dust

ry th

roug

h th

ese

initi

ativ

es.

–



TAB

LE B

1 A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t res

pons

e to

Sen

ate

inqu

iry

reco

mm

enda

tions

and

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

to F

ebru

ary

2019

Sena

te in

quir

y re

com

men

dati

ons

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent

resp

onse

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

Rec

omm

enda

tion

19:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at th

e D

epar

tmen

t of A

gric

ultu

re re

view

and

, w

here

app

ropr

iate

, str

engt

hen

curr

ent

regu

latio

ns g

over

ning

pri

vate

avi

cultu

re

impo

rts,

giv

en th

e hi

gh r

ate

at w

hich

pr

ivat

ely

kept

bird

s es

cape

into

the

wild

.

Not

ed

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent r

egul

ates

the

inte

rnat

iona

l mov

emen

t of w

ildlif

e. L

egal

ly im

port

ed e

xotic

wild

life,

in

clud

ing

bird

s, a

re th

e re

spon

sibi

lity

of th

e re

leva

nt s

tate

and

terr

itory

gov

ernm

ents

.

The

impo

rt o

f liv

e an

imal

s, s

uch

as e

xotic

bird

s, in

to A

ustr

alia

is c

ontr

olle

d un

der t

he B

iose

curi

ty A

ct, a

dmin

iste

red

by th

e D

epar

tmen

t of A

gric

ultu

re a

nd W

ater

Res

ourc

es a

nd th

e D

epar

tmen

t of H

ealth

, and

the

EPBC

Act

, ad

min

iste

red

by th

e D

epar

tmen

t of t

he E

nviro

nmen

t and

Ene

rgy.

The

Dep

artm

ent o

f the

Env

ironm

ent a

nd E

nerg

y ha

s re

spon

sibi

lity

for a

sses

sing

app

licat

ions

to a

men

d th

e Li

st o

f Sp

ecim

ens

take

n to

be

Suita

ble

for L

ive

Impo

rt (t

he L

ive

Impo

rt L

ist)

und

er th

e EP

BC A

ct to

incl

ude

a ne

w s

peci

es.

Each

new

ani

mal

spe

cies

pro

pose

d fo

r inc

lusi

on o

n th

e liv

e im

port

list

is th

e su

bjec

t of a

det

aile

d ris

k as

sess

men

t by

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f the

Env

ironm

ent a

nd E

nerg

y. T

his

asse

ssm

ent f

ocus

es o

n th

e po

tent

ial i

mpa

cts

on th

e A

ustr

alia

n en

viro

nmen

t of t

he o

rgan

ism

to b

e lis

ted.

To

appl

y fo

r any

ani

mal

spe

cim

ens

(exc

ludi

ng b

ioco

ntro

l age

nts)

to b

e in

clud

ed o

n th

e liv

e im

port

list

, the

app

lican

t mus

t sub

mit

a dr

aft a

sses

smen

t rep

ort t

hat a

ddre

sses

the

pote

ntia

l im

pact

s of

the

spec

ies

on th

e A

ustr

alia

n en

viro

nmen

t.

The

stan

dard

term

s of

refe

renc

e fo

r thi

s re

port

are

des

igne

d to

acc

ount

for A

ustr

alia

n co

nditi

ons.

The

y in

clud

e re

quire

men

ts fo

r inf

orm

atio

n re

gard

ing:

whe

ther

the

spec

ies

has

prev

ious

ly e

stab

lishe

d fe

ral p

opul

atio

ns a

nyw

here

in

the

wor

ld; a

ny p

revi

ous

risk

asse

ssm

ents

car

ried

out i

n A

ustr

alia

or o

vers

eas;

an

asse

ssm

ent o

f the

like

lihoo

d of

th

e sp

ecie

s es

tabl

ishi

ng a

bre

edin

g po

pula

tion

in A

ustr

alia

; the

pot

entia

l im

pact

s of

the

spec

ies

shou

ld it

bec

ome

esta

blis

hed

in A

ustr

alia

; and

rele

vant

sta

te/t

erri

tory

legi

slat

ive

cont

rols

. In

orde

r to

be e

ligib

le fo

r im

port

into

Aus

tral

ia,

a sp

ecie

s m

ust b

e lis

ted

on th

e Li

ve Im

port

Lis

t and

mee

t all

requ

irem

ents

rele

vant

to th

e Co

nven

tion

on In

tern

atio

nal

Trad

e in

End

ange

red

Spec

ies

of W

ild F

auna

and

Flo

ra (C

ITES

) und

er th

e EP

BC A

ct a

nd th

e bi

osec

urity

requ

irem

ents

set

ou

t und

er th

e Bi

osec

urity

Act

.

Curr

ent i

mpo

rt p

olic

ies

limit

the

impo

rt o

f liv

e bi

rds

to c

erta

in s

peci

es o

f pet

bird

s fr

om N

ew Z

eala

nd, p

rovi

ding

cur

rent

im

port

requ

irem

ents

are

fully

com

plie

d w

ith. O

nly

a sm

all n

umbe

r of b

irds

ente

r Aus

tral

ia th

is w

ay. B

etw

een

2012

and

20

15, 1

8 bi

rds

wer

e im

port

ed fr

om N

ew Z

eala

nd. O

n 2

May

20

16, t

he D

epar

tmen

t of A

gric

ultu

re a

nd W

ater

Res

ourc

es

anno

unce

d a

revi

ew o

f the

bio

secu

rity

ris

ks a

ssoc

iate

d w

ith im

port

atio

n of

pet

and

non

-com

mer

cial

psi

ttac

ine

bird

s (p

arro

ts).

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent n

otes

that

man

y ex

otic

bird

spe

cies

are

bre

d in

Aus

tral

ia.

On

2 M

ay 2

016

, Agr

icul

ture

ann

ounc

ed a

re

view

of t

he b

iose

curi

ty r

isks

ass

ocia

ted

with

impo

rtat

ion

of p

et a

nd n

on-c

omm

erci

al

psitt

acin

e bi

rds

(par

rots

). In

Oct

ober

20

18

Agr

icul

ture

revi

sed

the

scop

e to

incl

ude

all a

viar

y (n

on–c

omm

erci

al, c

omm

erci

al a

nd z

oo) i

mpo

rts

of p

sitt

acin

e bi

rds.

The

dra

ft re

view

is a

ntic

ipat

ed

to b

e av

aila

ble

for c

omm

ent e

arly

20

19.

Rec

omm

enda

tion

20

:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at th

e D

epar

tmen

t of A

gric

ultu

re id

entif

y th

e pa

thw

ays

by w

hich

exo

tic b

irds

are

ente

ring

the

coun

try,

incl

udin

g ill

egal

pat

hway

s,

and

wor

k to

bet

ter r

egul

ate

or c

lose

th

ese

path

way

s.

Supp

orte

d in

pri

ncip

le

Ther

e ar

e in

itiat

ives

in p

lace

to id

entif

y th

e pa

thw

ays

by w

hich

exo

tic b

irds

ente

r the

cou

ntry

and

com

bat i

llega

l im

port

atio

n th

roug

h th

ose

path

way

s. T

he A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t is

com

mitt

ed to

con

tinui

ng to

regu

late

thes

e pa

thw

ays

acro

ss a

ran

ge o

f age

ncie

s.

The

Dep

artm

ent o

f Im

mig

ratio

n an

d Bo

rder

Pro

tect

ion

is p

rimar

ily re

spon

sibl

e fo

r ide

ntif

ying

and

regu

latin

g ill

egal

pa

thw

ays

into

Aus

tral

ia s

uch

as s

mug

glin

g. T

his

incl

udes

the

illeg

al p

athw

ays

thro

ugh

whi

ch e

xotic

bird

s m

ight

ent

er

Aus

tral

ia. H

owev

er, t

he D

epar

tmen

t of A

gric

ultu

re a

nd W

ater

Res

ourc

es a

ctiv

ely

targ

ets

the

illeg

al im

port

atio

n of

all

anim

als

into

Aus

tral

ia, i

nclu

ding

avi

an s

peci

es. I

nves

tigat

ions

and

inte

llige

nce

colle

ctio

n an

d sh

arin

g ar

e on

goin

g as

ar

e re

latio

nshi

ps w

ith o

ther

bor

der a

genc

ies

and

inte

rnat

iona

l par

tner

s. T

he s

mug

glin

g of

fert

ilise

d eg

gs is

als

o an

ar

ea o

f foc

us fo

r the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Agr

icul

ture

and

Wat

er R

esou

rces

and

wor

k on

iden

tifyi

ng p

athw

ays

and

high

ris

k in

divi

dual

s is

ong

oing

.

In a

dditi

on, t

he D

epar

tmen

t of A

gric

ultu

re a

nd W

ater

Res

ourc

es d

evel

ops

impo

rt c

ondi

tions

to m

eet A

ustr

alia

’s

appr

opria

te le

vel o

f pro

tect

ion

(ALO

P), u

nder

whi

ch le

gal t

rade

in a

nim

als

and

thei

r pro

duct

s ca

n oc

cur.

As

prev

ious

ly m

entio

ned,

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Agr

icul

ture

and

Wat

er R

esou

rces

has

ann

ounc

ed a

revi

ew o

f the

bi

osec

urity

ris

ks a

ssoc

iate

d w

ith im

port

ing

pet a

nd n

on-c

omm

erci

al p

sitt

acin

e bi

rds

(par

rots

). It

has

been

pro

pose

d th

at

prov

idin

g fo

r man

aged

, leg

al im

port

s is

one

way

to re

duce

the

likel

ihoo

d an

d im

pact

s of

sm

uggl

ing.

The

Dep

artm

ent o

f the

Env

ironm

ent a

nd E

nerg

y is

resp

onsi

ble

for i

mpl

emen

ting

Aus

tral

ia’s

obl

igat

ions

und

er C

ITES

. A

ustr

alia

is o

ne o

f 181

Par

ties

to C

ITES

that

coo

pera

te to

ens

ure

that

wild

spe

cies

, inc

ludi

ng a

num

ber o

f bird

spe

cies

lis

ted

in th

e co

nven

tion,

are

not

thre

aten

ed b

y in

tern

atio

nal t

rade

.

Ther

e ar

e in

itiat

ives

in p

lace

to id

entif

y th

e pa

thw

ays

by w

hich

exo

tic b

irds

ente

r the

co

untr

y an

d co

mba

t ille

gal i

mpo

rtat

ion

thro

ugh

thos

e pa

thw

ays.

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent

is c

omm

itted

to c

ontin

uing

to re

gula

te th

ese

path

way

s ac

ross

a r

ange

of a

genc

ies.

Agr

icul

ture

act

ivel

y ta

rget

s th

e ill

egal

impo

rtat

ion

of a

ll an

imal

s in

to A

ustr

alia

, inc

ludi

ng a

vian

sp

ecie

s. In

vest

igat

ions

and

inte

llige

nce

colle

ctio

n an

d sh

arin

g ar

e on

goin

g as

are

rela

tions

hips

with

ot

her b

orde

r age

ncie

s an

d in

tern

atio

nal p

artn

ers.

Th

e sm

uggl

ing

of fe

rtili

sed

eggs

is a

lso

an a

rea

of fo

cus

for A

gric

ultu

re a

nd w

ork

on id

entif

ying

pa

thw

ays

and

high

ris

k in

divi

dual

s is

ong

oing

.

Agr

icul

ture

has

ann

ounc

ed a

revi

ew o

f the

bi

osec

urity

ris

ks a

ssoc

iate

d w

ith im

port

ing

pet

and

non-

com

mer

cial

psi

ttac

ine

bird

s (p

arro

ts).



TAB

LE B

1 A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t res

pons

e to

Sen

ate

inqu

iry

reco

mm

enda

tions

and

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

to F

ebru

ary

2019

Sena

te in

quir

y re

com

men

dati

ons

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent

resp

onse

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

Rec

omm

enda

tion

21:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at th

e D

epar

tmen

t of A

gric

ultu

re w

ork

with

re

leva

nt s

tate

and

terr

itory

age

ncie

s to

de

velo

p a

natio

nal d

atab

ase

of s

eize

d ex

otic

wild

life.

Supp

orte

d in

pri

ncip

le

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent s

uppo

rts,

in p

rinci

ple,

a n

umbe

r of t

he re

form

s th

at a

re b

eing

pro

gres

sed

unde

r Sc

hedu

le 3

of t

he IG

AB

to d

evel

op a

col

labo

rativ

e ap

proa

ch to

col

lect

ing,

col

latin

g, a

naly

sing

, sto

ring

and

shar

ing

bios

ecur

ity in

form

atio

n to

impr

ove

deci

sion

-mak

ing

and

enha

nce

effici

ency

of b

iose

curi

ty o

pera

tions

. How

ever

, a

sing

ular

dat

abas

e m

ay n

ot b

e pr

actic

able

.

The

IPA

C ha

s de

velo

ped

repo

rtin

g sy

stem

s to

sha

re in

form

atio

n be

twee

n th

e A

ustr

alia

n an

d st

ate

and

terr

itory

go

vern

men

ts o

n de

tect

ion

of n

ew p

est a

nim

als

incl

udin

g st

owaw

ay, s

mug

gled

, sei

zed,

esc

apes

/rel

ease

s an

d fie

ld

dete

ctio

ns. I

PAC

has

been

ann

ually

col

latin

g an

d sh

arin

g th

e de

tect

ion

data

bet

wee

n ju

risdi

ctio

ns fo

r ove

r five

yea

rs.

Ove

r tim

e, th

e na

tiona

l dat

aset

will

pro

vide

vita

l inf

orm

atio

n fo

r sci

entifi

c an

alys

is o

n tr

ends

in th

e ty

pe, l

ocat

ion,

pa

thw

ay a

nd p

ropa

gule

pre

ssur

e of

new

ver

tebr

ate

dete

ctio

ns a

t the

bor

der a

nd p

ost-

bord

er.

To im

prov

e tim

ely

data

sha

ring,

the

NBC

is d

evel

opin

g ag

reem

ents

for s

harin

g in

form

atio

n an

d th

e de

velo

pmen

t of

nat

iona

l bio

secu

rity

min

imum

dat

a se

ts to

faci

litat

e th

e ex

chan

ge o

f agr

eed

info

rmat

ion

betw

een

juris

dict

ions

as

a p

riori

ty u

nder

IGA

B. M

inim

um d

ata

sets

hav

e be

en d

raft

ed fo

r em

erge

ncy

resp

onse

and

sur

veill

ance

for

pest

s an

d di

seas

es.

The

Dep

artm

ent o

f the

Env

ironm

ent a

nd E

nerg

y cu

rren

tly m

aint

ains

a d

atab

ase

of e

xotic

wild

life,

sei

zed

unde

r Par

t 13

A o

f the

EPB

C A

ct. T

he D

epar

tmen

t of t

he E

nviro

nmen

t and

Ene

rgy

wor

ks c

olla

bora

tivel

y w

ith th

e D

epar

tmen

t of

Agr

icul

ture

and

Wat

er R

esou

rces

to p

rovi

de in

form

atio

n on

sei

zed

exot

ic w

ildlif

e to

sta

te a

nd te

rrito

ry a

genc

ies.

Envi

ronm

ent w

orks

col

labo

rativ

ely

with

A

gric

ultu

re to

pro

vide

info

rmat

ion

on s

eize

d ex

otic

wild

life

to s

tate

and

terr

itory

age

ncie

s.

Rec

omm

enda

tion

22:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at,

follo

win

g th

e co

mpl

etio

n of

the

curr

ent

revi

ew o

f nat

iona

l mar

itim

e pe

st p

olic

y by

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Agr

icul

ture

, the

Co

mm

onw

ealth

Gov

ernm

ent a

men

d bi

osec

urity

legi

slat

ion

to in

corp

orat

e a

natio

nal m

anda

tory

bio

foul

ing

man

agem

ent r

egim

e.

Not

ed

Dur

ing

the

rece

nt re

view

of N

atio

nal M

arin

e Pe

st B

iose

curi

ty a

rran

gem

ents

, the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Agr

icul

ture

and

W

ater

Res

ourc

es re

leas

ed is

sue

and

disc

ussi

on p

aper

s an

d he

ld s

take

hold

er w

orks

hops

in e

ach

stat

e ca

pita

l city

. Th

roug

h th

ese

cons

ulta

tion

mec

hani

sms,

it e

xplo

red

stak

ehol

der v

iew

s on

the

need

for,

and

natu

re o

f, re

gula

tion

and

risk

man

agem

ent c

ontr

ols

of b

iofo

ulin

g on

ves

sels

.

The

revi

ew m

ade

a nu

mbe

r of r

ecom

men

datio

ns to

war

d a

new

focu

s on

pre

vent

ion

activ

ities

, suc

h as

bet

ter

rela

tions

hips

bet

wee

n re

sear

cher

s, m

arin

e-ba

sed

indu

strie

s, g

over

nmen

t and

the

com

mun

ity. I

t als

o re

com

men

ds th

e de

velo

pmen

t of s

tron

ger r

espo

nse

arra

ngem

ents

for d

ealin

g w

ith in

curs

ions

.

The

reco

mm

enda

tions

will

be

impl

emen

ted

over

20

15–1

8. Im

plem

enta

tion

will

invo

lve

wor

king

clo

sely

with

st

akeh

olde

rs to

str

engt

hen

natio

nal m

arin

e pe

st b

iose

curi

ty a

rran

gem

ents

to re

duce

ris

k of

mar

ine

pest

s fr

om

esta

blis

hing

in A

ustr

alia

n w

ater

s. T

he re

view

repo

rt a

nd re

com

men

datio

ns a

re a

vaila

ble

at th

e D

epar

tmen

t of

Agr

icul

ture

and

Wat

er R

esou

rces

web

site

.

The

Bios

ecur

ity A

ct p

rovi

des

broa

d po

wer

s fo

r the

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent t

o as

sess

and

man

age

bios

ecur

ity r

isks

fo

r inc

omin

g ve

ssel

s. T

hese

pow

ers

are

flexi

ble

and

wou

ld e

nabl

e m

anag

emen

t of b

iofo

ulin

g.

Agr

icul

ture

is in

vest

igat

ing

regu

lato

ry o

ptio

ns

to m

anag

e bi

osec

urity

ris

ks a

ssoc

iate

d w

ith

biof

oulin

g on

ves

sels

arr

ivin

g in

Aus

tral

ian

terr

itory

. Agr

icul

ture

’s a

ctio

ns a

re c

onsi

sten

t w

ith th

e 20

15 R

evie

w o

f Nat

iona

l Mar

ine

Pest

Bi

osec

urity

reco

mm

enda

tions

and

act

ivity

1.3

of

the

Mar

ine

Pest

Pla

n 20

18–2

023.

Agr

icul

ture

is c

urre

ntly

dev

elop

ing

a co

nsul

tatio

n re

gula

tion

impa

ct s

tate

men

t tha

t will

pre

sent

po

licy

optio

ns fo

r the

man

agem

ent o

f ves

sels

ar

rivi

ng in

Aus

tral

ian

terr

itory

to m

inim

ise

unac

cept

able

bio

foul

ing

rela

ted

bios

ecur

ity

risk.

Agr

icul

ture

aim

s to

form

ally

eng

age

with

sta

keho

lder

s on

the

RIS

in M

arch

20

19.

Agr

icul

ture

is c

olla

bora

ting

with

sta

te a

nd te

rrito

ry

gove

rnm

ents

in d

evel

opin

g bi

ofou

ling

polic

y.

Agr

icul

ture

wor

ks c

lose

ly w

ith in

tern

atio

nal

part

ners

to p

rom

ote

inte

rnat

iona

l con

sist

ency

in

biof

oulin

g re

gula

tions

and

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f re

gula

tions

that

alig

n w

ith th

e di

rect

ion

set b

y th

e In

tern

atio

nal M

ariti

me

Org

aniz

atio

n (I

MO

). A

ustr

alia

, alo

ng w

ith N

ew Z

eala

nd, a

re le

adin

g in

IM

O in

itiat

ives

rela

ting

to b

iofo

ulin

g, in

clud

ing

the

revi

ew o

f the

IMO

Bio

foul

ing

Gui

delin

es

and

bein

g st

rate

gic

part

ners

in th

e G

loFo

ulin

g Pa

rtne

rshi

ps p

roje

ct.

http://agriculture.gov.au/



TAB

LE B

1 A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t res

pons

e to

Sen

ate

inqu

iry

reco

mm

enda

tions

and

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

to F

ebru

ary

2019

Sena

te in

quir

y re

com

men

dati

ons

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent

resp

onse

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

Rec

omm

enda

tion

23:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at th

e D

epar

tmen

t of A

gric

ultu

re c

ondu

ct

mor

e re

gula

r shi

p in

spec

tions

targ

eted

at

bio

foul

ing.

Not

ed

The

rece

nt re

view

of N

atio

nal M

arin

e Pe

st B

iose

curi

ty a

rran

gem

ents

, exp

lore

d st

akeh

olde

r vie

ws

on th

e ne

ed fo

r, an

d na

ture

of,

regu

latio

n an

d ris

k m

anag

emen

t con

trol

s of

bio

foul

ing

on v

esse

ls.

The

revi

ew m

ade

a nu

mbe

r of r

ecom

men

datio

ns to

war

d a

new

focu

s on

pre

vent

ion

activ

ities

, suc

h as

bet

ter

rela

tions

hips

bet

wee

n re

sear

cher

s, m

arin

e-ba

sed

indu

strie

s, g

over

nmen

t and

the

com

mun

ity. I

t als

o re

com

men

ds th

e de

velo

pmen

t of s

tron

ger r

espo

nse

arra

ngem

ents

for d

ealin

g w

ith in

curs

ions

.

The

reco

mm

enda

tions

will

be

impl

emen

ted

over

20

15–1

8. Im

plem

enta

tion

will

invo

lve

wor

king

clo

sely

with

sta

keho

lder

s to

str

engt

hen

natio

nal m

arin

e pe

st b

iose

curi

ty a

rran

gem

ents

to re

duce

ris

k of

mar

ine

pest

s fr

om e

stab

lishi

ng in

A

ustr

alia

n w

ater

s. T

he re

view

repo

rt a

nd re

com

men

datio

ns a

re a

vaila

ble

at w

ww

.agr

icul

ture

.gov

.au.

As

part

of t

he b

iofo

ulin

g po

licy

deve

lopm

ent

proc

ess,

Agr

icul

ture

is d

evel

opin

g po

licie

s to

va

lidat

e co

mpl

ianc

e w

ith th

e pr

opos

ed m

anda

tory

re

quire

men

ts to

ens

ure

vess

els

are

targ

eted

for

insp

ectio

n ap

prop

riate

ly. A

gric

ultu

re is

ass

essi

ng

the

feas

ibili

ty a

nd s

cope

of a

men

dmen

ts to

the

Bios

ecur

ity R

egul

atio

n 20

15 a

nd th

e M

ariti

me

Arr

ival

s Re

port

ing

Syst

em (M

AR

S) to

ena

ble

Agr

icul

ture

to ta

rget

hig

h ris

k ve

ssel

s fo

r in

spec

tion

usin

g in

form

atio

n pr

ovid

ed th

roug

h pr

e-ar

riva

l rep

orts

.

Rec

omm

enda

tion

24

:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at th

e Co

mm

onw

ealth

Gov

ernm

ent w

ork

with

st

ate

and

terr

itory

gov

ernm

ents

to e

stab

lish

a na

tiona

l mon

itorin

g an

d da

ta s

harin

g re

gim

e fo

r fre

shw

ater

fish

incu

rsio

ns.

Supp

orte

d in

pri

ncip

le

Fres

hwat

er fi

sh in

curs

ions

requ

ires

co-o

pera

tion

betw

een

all l

evel

s of

gov

ernm

ent t

o m

onito

r, no

ting

that

ther

e ar

e a

rang

e of

diffi

culti

es in

col

lect

ing

data

at t

he s

peci

es le

vel f

or fi

sh im

port

s. T

he A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t will

wor

k w

ith

stat

e an

d te

rrito

ry g

over

nmen

ts to

con

side

r the

pos

sibi

lity

of e

stab

lishi

ng a

nat

iona

l mon

itorin

g an

d da

ta s

harin

g re

gim

e fo

r fre

shw

ater

fish

incu

rsio

ns, n

otin

g th

ere

are

rela

ted

initi

ativ

es c

urre

ntly

und

erw

ay th

at w

ould

ach

ieve

this

out

com

e.

Und

er S

ched

ule

3 of

the

IGA

B, a

num

ber o

f ref

orm

s ar

e be

ing

prog

ress

ed to

faci

litat

e a

colla

bora

tive

appr

oach

to

colle

ctin

g, c

olla

ting,

ana

lysi

ng, s

torin

g an

d sh

arin

g bi

osec

urity

info

rmat

ion

to im

prov

e de

cisi

on-m

akin

g an

d en

hanc

e effi

cien

cy o

f bio

secu

rity

ope

ratio

ns. I

PAC

is p

rom

otin

g th

e m

aint

enan

ce o

f a n

atio

nal f

resh

wat

er fi

sh li

st fo

r spe

cies

th

at a

re id

entifi

ed a

s no

xiou

s ac

ross

juris

dict

ions

and

is d

evel

opin

g a

natio

nally

agr

eed

risk

asse

ssm

ent m

etho

dolo

gy

to a

sses

s sp

ecie

s w

hose

pot

entia

l is

not y

et k

now

n an

d ha

ve y

et to

be

asse

ssed

. It i

s al

so d

evel

opin

g a

com

mun

icat

ion

stra

tegy

to r

aise

aw

aren

ess

in th

e co

mm

unity

and

indu

stry

abo

ut th

e m

anag

emen

t, co

ntro

l and

regu

latio

n of

or

nam

enta

l fish

, as

wel

l as

rais

ing

awar

enes

s of

pes

t fish

and

thei

r man

agem

ent w

ith k

ey s

take

hold

ers.

–

Rec

omm

enda

tion

25:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at th

e D

epar

tmen

t of A

gric

ultu

re im

prov

e bo

rder

su

rvei

llanc

e of

fres

hwat

er fi

sh im

port

s,

revi

ew th

e re

leva

nce

of it

s ris

k as

sess

men

ts

for A

ustr

alia

n co

nditi

ons

and

impl

emen

t as

soon

as

prac

ticab

le th

e on

-arr

ival

fish

hea

lth

mon

itorin

g pr

ogra

m.

Supp

orte

d in

pri

ncip

le

The

impo

rt o

f liv

e an

imal

s, s

uch

as fi

sh, i

nto

Aus

tral

ia is

regu

late

d by

a n

umbe

r of a

genc

ies

unde

r the

Bio

secu

rity

Act

, ad

min

iste

red

by th

e D

epar

tmen

t of A

gric

ultu

re a

nd W

ater

Res

ourc

es a

nd th

e D

epar

tmen

t of H

ealth

, and

the

EPBC

Act

, ad

min

iste

red

by th

e D

epar

tmen

t of t

he E

nviro

nmen

t and

Ene

rgy.

An

impo

rt p

erm

it is

requ

ired

to im

port

live

orn

amen

tal

fish

to A

ustr

alia

. Onl

y ce

rtai

n pe

rmitt

ed s

peci

es m

ay b

e im

port

ed fr

om a

ppro

ved

coun

trie

s. T

he li

ve fi

sh im

port

co

nditi

ons,

incl

udin

g th

e lis

t of p

erm

itted

spe

cies

and

app

rove

d co

untr

ies,

is s

peci

fied

in th

e D

epar

tmen

t of A

gric

ultu

re

and

Wat

er R

esou

rces

Bio

secu

rity

Impo

rt C

ondi

tions

sys

tem

(BIC

ON

).

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent w

ill w

ork

with

sta

te a

nd te

rrito

ry g

over

nmen

ts to

con

side

r the

pos

sibi

lity

of e

stab

lishi

ng a

na

tiona

l mon

itorin

g an

d da

ta s

harin

g re

gim

e fo

r fre

shw

ater

fish

incu

rsio

ns a

s di

scus

sed

unde

r rec

omm

enda

tion

24.

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent,

thro

ugh

the

Dep

artm

ent o

f Agr

icul

ture

and

Wat

er R

esou

rces

, is

impl

emen

ting

the

orna

men

tal fi

sh im

port

ris

k re

form

pro

ject

, whi

ch is

aim

ed a

t im

prov

ing

the

depa

rtm

ent’s

cap

acity

to c

ondu

ct o

n-ar

riva

l di

seas

e su

rvei

llanc

e of

fres

hwat

er a

nd m

arin

e or

nam

enta

l fish

spe

cies

impo

rted

into

Aus

tral

ia. C

urre

nt a

ppro

ache

s fo

r bo

rder

sur

veill

ance

of f

resh

wat

er fi

sh im

port

s ar

e be

ing

stre

ngth

ened

to m

anag

e ris

ks a

ssoc

iate

d w

ith a

sym

ptom

atic

di

seas

es o

f bio

secu

rity

con

cern

(for

exa

mpl

e, ir

idov

irus)

.

On

1 M

arch

20

16, t

he D

epar

tmen

t of A

gric

ultu

re a

nd W

ater

Res

ourc

es im

plem

ente

d ne

w p

re-e

xpor

t irid

oviru

s fr

ee

cert

ifica

tion

requ

irem

ents

for i

mpo

rted

fres

hwat

er o

rnam

enta

l fish

that

bel

ong

to th

e go

uram

i, ci

chlid

and

poe

cilii

d gr

oups

. It r

ecen

tly c

ondu

cted

four

on-

arri

val s

urve

illan

ce tr

ials

as

part

of t

he re

form

pro

ject

. The

pur

pose

of t

he tr

ials

w

ere

to:

• id

entif

y ke

y bi

osec

urity

ris

k pa

thw

ays

for i

ridov

iruse

s

• te

st th

e op

erat

iona

l fea

sibi

lity

of, a

nd m

ake

appr

opria

te c

hang

es to

, the

fish

hea

lth s

urve

illan

ce a

nd p

athw

ay a

naly

sis

syst

em p

rior t

o fu

ll im

plem

enta

tion.

The

test

resu

lts o

f the

tria

ls h

ave

been

pro

vide

d to

the

rele

vant

ove

rsea

s co

mpe

tent

aut

hori

ties

of a

ppro

ved

expo

rtin

g co

untr

ies

to h

elp

them

targ

et th

e hi

ghes

t ris

k ar

eas

of th

eir f

resh

wat

er o

rnam

enta

l fish

exp

ort i

ndus

try.

Res

ults

hav

e al

so b

een

prov

ided

to im

port

ers

to h

elp

them

sou

rce

fish

free

of i

ridov

irus.

On

1 M

arch

20

16, A

gric

ultu

re im

plem

ente

d ne

w p

re-e

xpor

t irid

oviru

s fr

ee c

ertifi

catio

n re

quire

men

ts fo

r im

port

ed fr

eshw

ater

orn

amen

tal

fish

that

bel

ong

to th

e go

uram

i, ci

chlid

and

po

ecili

id g

roup

s. It

rece

ntly

con

duct

ed fo

ur

on-a

rriv

al s

urve

illan

ce tr

ials

as

part

of t

he

refo

rm p

roje

ct.



TAB

LE B

1 A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t res

pons

e to

Sen

ate

inqu

iry

reco

mm

enda

tions

and

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

to F

ebru

ary

2019

Sena

te in

quir

y re

com

men

dati

ons

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent

resp

onse

Agr

icul

ture

act

ions

Rec

omm

enda

tion

26:

The

com

mitt

ee re

com

men

ds th

at th

e Co

mm

onw

ealth

Gov

ernm

ent w

ork

with

sta

te

and

terr

itory

gov

ernm

ents

to e

stab

lish

a na

tiona

l fra

mew

ork

for m

anag

ing

bios

ecur

ity

on A

ustr

alia

’s is

land

s.

Supp

orte

d in

pri

ncip

le

The

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent c

onsi

ders

that

it is

mor

e eff

ectiv

e to

str

engt

hen

man

agem

ent o

f bio

secu

rity

on

Aus

tral

ia’s

is

land

s w

ithin

the

exis

ting

bios

ecur

ity fr

amew

ork,

rat

her t

han

crea

ting

an a

dditi

onal

fram

ewor

k fo

r thi

s pu

rpos

e.

Regu

latio

n of

the

mov

emen

t of p

ests

and

dis

ease

s be

twee

n A

ustr

alia

’s is

land

s, a

nd m

anag

emen

t of e

stab

lishe

d pe

sts

and

dise

ases

on

Aus

tral

ia’s

isla

nds,

is p

rimar

ily th

e re

spon

sibi

lity

of th

e st

ates

and

terr

itorie

s (e

xcep

t for

the

isla

nds

that

ar

e un

der C

omm

onw

ealth

con

trol

). Th

e A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t con

trib

utes

to b

iose

curi

ty a

ctiv

ities

with

in A

ustr

alia

, in

par

tner

ship

with

sta

te a

nd te

rrito

ry g

over

nmen

ts, i

ndus

try

and

othe

r sta

keho

lder

s w

here

ther

e is

a d

isce

rnib

le

natio

nal i

nter

est.

The

Aus

tral

ian,

sta

te a

nd te

rrito

ry g

over

nmen

ts a

re w

orki

ng th

roug

h th

e N

BC to

impr

ove

how

the

effec

ts o

f es

tabl

ishe

d pe

sts

and

dise

ases

of n

atio

nal s

igni

fican

ce o

n A

ustr

alia

’s e

cono

my,

env

ironm

ent a

nd w

ay o

f life

are

m

anag

ed. T

his

wor

k w

ould

als

o be

rele

vant

for b

iose

curi

ty m

anag

emen

t on

isla

nds.

In Ju

ly 2

016

, the

NBC

end

orse

d th

e N

atio

nal F

ram

ewor

k fo

r the

Man

agem

ent o

f Est

ablis

hed

Pest

s an

d D

isea

ses

of

Nat

iona

l Sig

nific

ance

, whi

ch w

as a

key

del

iver

able

und

er S

ched

ule

5 of

the

IGA

B. T

he fr

amew

ork

outli

nes

a ne

w

appr

oach

to m

anag

ing

wee

ds, p

est a

nim

als,

pla

nt a

nd a

nim

al p

est o

r dis

ease

s th

at b

ecom

e es

tabl

ishe

d in

Aus

tral

ia

and

have

a s

igni

fican

t im

pact

at t

he n

atio

nal l

evel

. It p

rovi

des

for:

• ac

tiviti

es to

be

unde

rtak

en b

y th

e m

ost a

ppro

pria

te p

arty

• ap

prop

riate

prio

ritis

atio

n of

EPD

NS

base

d on

ris

k

• eff

ort t

o be

targ

eted

whe

re th

e gr

eate

st b

iose

curi

ty o

utco

mes

can

be

achi

eved

in th

e na

tiona

l int

eres

t

• in

vest

men

t ret

urn

to b

e op

timis

ed

• ad

optio

n of

nat

iona

l inv

estm

ent p

rinci

ples

invo

lvin

g be

nefic

iarie

s an

d ris

k cr

eato

rs

• m

inim

isat

ion

of re

gula

tory

bur

dens

ass

ocia

ted

with

con

tain

men

t of e

stab

lishe

d pe

sts

and

dise

ases

.

In a

dditi

on to

this

wor

k, th

e A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t has

com

mitt

ed $

50 m

illio

n ov

er fo

ur y

ears

und

er th

e A

gric

ultu

ral

Com

petit

iven

ess

Whi

te P

aper

to im

prov

e th

e w

ay e

stab

lishe

d pe

st a

nim

als

and

wee

ds a

re m

anag

ed.

Furt

her,

a ke

y ac

tion

area

in th

e A

ustr

alia

n G

over

nmen

t’s T

hrea

tene

d Sp

ecie

s St

rate

gy is

to e

stab

lish

safe

hav

ens

for s

peci

es m

ost a

t ris

k. T

his

incl

udes

isla

nds

from

whi

ch a

ll in

vasi

ve a

nim

als

and

plan

ts a

re e

radi

cate

d to

pro

vide

lo

ng-t

erm

pro

tect

ion

to th

reat

ened

spe

cies

.

With

in th

ese

area

s, s

peci

es a

re a

ble

to th

rive

and

incr

ease

thei

r num

bers

with

out t

he p

ress

ure

of th

reat

s.

Ano

ther

act

ion

in th

e st

rate

gy is

to li

mit

the

impa

ct o

f fer

al c

ats.

One

of t

he ta

rget

s un

der t

his

actio

n is

the

erad

icat

ion

of fe

ral c

ats

from

five

Aus

tral

ian

isla

nds

with

in fi

ve y

ears

.

Agr

icul

ture

wor

ked

with

the

Wes

tern

Aus

tral

ian

Gov

ernm

ent t

o tr

ansi

tion

to m

anag

emen

t the

M

acau

Pap

er w

asp

on C

ocos

(Kee

ling)

Isla

nds,

fo

llow

ing

a fa

iled

erad

icat

ion

prog

ram

und

er

the

NEB

RA

.

Agr

icul

ture

Dep

artm

ent o

f Agr

icul

ture

and

Wat

er R

esou

rces

. ALO

P ap

prop

riat

e le

vel o

f pro

tect

ion.

BiC

ON

Bio

secu

rity

Impo

rt C

ondi

tion

s sy

stem

. CiT

ES C

onve

ntio

n on

Inte

rnat

iona

l Tra

de in

End

ange

red

Spec

ies

of

Wild

Fau

na a

nd F

lora

. Env

iron

men

t D

epar

tmen

t of t

he E

nvir

onm

ent a

nd E

nerg

y. E

PBC

Envi

ronm

enta

l Pro

tect

ion

and

Bio

dive

rsit

y Co

nser

vati

on. i

GA

B In

terg

over

nmen

tal A

gree

men

t on

Bio

secu

rity

. iM

O In

tern

atio

nal

Mar

itim

e O

rgan

izat

ion.

iPA

C In

vasi

ve P

lant

s an

d A

nim

als

Com

mit

tee.

MA

RS

Mar

itim

e A

rriv

als

Rep

orti

ng S

yste

m. N

BC

Nat

iona

l Bio

secu

rity

Com

mit

tee.

NB

MCC

Nat

iona

l Bio

secu

rity

Man

agem

ent C

onsu

ltat

ive

Com

mit

tee.

NEB

RA

Nat

iona

l Env

iron

men

tal B

iose

curi

ty R

espo

nse

Agr

eem

ent.

SB

Qi S

tron

ger

Bio

secu

rity

and

Qua

rant

ine

Init

iati

ve. T

AP

Thre

at A

bate

men

t Pla

n.

Sour

ce: S

enat

e En

viro

nmen

t and

Com

mun

icat

ions

Ref

eren

ces

Com

mit

tee

2015

.



In May 2015 the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee released a report on Environmental biosecurity. The Australian Greens also provided a Minority Report as an annexure. In June 2017 the Australian Government responded to recommendations in the Minority Report and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (Agriculture) initiated actions in response.

TABLE B2 Australian Government response to Australian Greens recommendations and Agriculture actions to October 2018

Australian Greens recommendations Australian Government response Agriculture actions

Recommendation 1:

The Australian Greens recommend that the government establish and resource the proposed Environment Health Australia that can act as the key body for environment health in the same manner as Plant Health Australia and Animal Health Australia, and that this body establish a partnership between community, governments and environmental businesses in order to deliver high priority policy and planning in environmental biosecurity.

Not supported

The Australian Government agrees with the Committee’s (majority) conclusion that the establishment of a new body along the lines suggested in the Environment Health Australia proposal would not be the best use of the limited resources available for biosecurity measures.

The Australian Government considers a more effective approach is to continue to integrate environmental issues into existing governance structures, functions and activities and to strengthen collaboration and consultation with relevant stakeholders, including community members. This approach builds on already strong arrangements through the NBC, its sectoral committees and other relevant organisations, rather than creating a separate system.

–

Recommendation 2:

The Australian Greens recommend that the federal government fund Environment Health Australia on an equal footing with Plant Health Australia and Animal Health Australia and at a minimum level of $20 million over 5 years, with co-contribution from State and Territory governments of at least $10 million over 5 years. This funding must not come out of existing funding for biosecurity measures.

Not supported

See Australian Government response to Recommendation 1.

–

Recommendation 3:

The newly-established Environment Health Australia should, through a transparent, scientific process, identify and rank Australia's priority environmental biosecurity threats. Undertake pathway analysis of these high priority threats to identify where biosecurity should be focused.

Not supported


–





Recommendation 4:

The newly-established Environment Health Australia should develop a timetable for bringing environmental biosecurity planning up to the level achieved for plant and animal industries.

Not supported


–

Recommendation 5:

The newly-established Environment Health Australia should, within3 years, develop contingency plans for 30 high priority environmental pests.

Not supported


–

Recommendation 6:

The newly-established Environment Health Australia should establish an independent expert panel to review recent incursions and to recommend ongoing responses to those incursions and reforms to reduce the risks of future incursions. An immediate priority should be to review whether smooth newts are eradicable.

Not supported


–

Recommendation 7:

The Australian Greens recommend that the federal government implement the key recommendations of the Beale Review, in particular the creation of a separate Biosecurity Agency, with a Director that is separate from the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.

Not supported

The Australian Government has implemented many of the key recommendations of the Beale Review and is committed to support the delivery of effective and efficient biosecurity services as a core function of the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.

The Australian Government does not consider it necessary to create a separate Biosecurity Agency. The Biosecurity Act provides a strong decision-making framework with explicit statutory requirements for the Director of Biosecurity. This includes section 541 of the Act, which provides that, in performing functions or exercising powers under the Act, the Director of Biosecurity must have regard to the objects of the Act.

–





Recommendation 8:

The Queensland or federal governments should urgently allocate at least $1.3 million per year for at least 10 years towards the eradication program for yellow crazy ants before more time is lost to delay.

Partially supported

The Australian Government has committed $8.8 million over three years to tackle yellow crazy ants in Far North Queensland. This comprises $7.5 million for action within and adjacent to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and $1.3 million to build skills and capabilities among farmers and landholders to assist with control of tramp ants such as yellow crazy ants.

In addition to this new funding, funding from the Green Army Program has supported ten teams contributing to addressing the problem of yellow crazy ants, including the use of bait stations to control yellow crazy ants next to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. The Queensland Government has also committed $3 million over three years to the program. The Australian Government will seek an additional $4.5 million from the Queensland Government as matching funding.

The Australian and Queensland governments have committed $11.8 million over three years. (Commonwealth $8.8 million, which includes $7.5 million for eradication and $1.3 million for extension, and Queensland $3.01 million).


Appendix C

Responses to IGAB review recommendations on environmental biosecurity

On 29 November 2018 the Australian agriculture ministers supported the 42 recommendations in the IGAB report (Craik, Palmer & Sheldrake 2017). Several of these recommendations directly or indirectly relate to environmental biosecurity that have either already been implemented or are in the process of being implemented.

TABLE C1 IGAB recommendations and Agriculture actions to February 2019

IGAB recommendations Agriculture actions

Recommendation 7:

Jurisdictions should institute formal arrangements between agriculture and environment agencies, including through memoranda of understanding, to define the objectives of cooperation, leading and support roles, information flows, resources and deliverables.

Agriculture will progress a memorandum of understanding or other appropriate arrangements with the Department of the Environment and Energy. The Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer will be responsible for progressing these arrangements.

Recommendation 8:

Jurisdictions should make clearer commitments to environmental biosecurity within IGAB2, including in relation to:

• a clear definition of environmental biosecurity such as that proposed by this review

• the principle of ecologically sustainable development

• acknowledgement of Australia’s international responsibilities under the Convention on Biological Diversity program of work to determine, plan and prepare for national priority pests and diseases impacting on the community, environment and native species

• a focus on environment and community as well as industry partnerships

• diseases transmitted to humans by invertebrates as well as vertebrates.

Agriculture coordinated a revised Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity. Agriculture Ministers have signed the revised agreement by in February 2019.





Recommendation 9:

The Australian Government should establish the senior, expert position of Chief Community and Environmental Biosecurity Officer within the environment department. A far less preferred alternative is to house the position in the agriculture department.

Agriculture established the position of Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer.

Recommendation 10:

The NBC should establish a new Community and Environmental Biosecurity Committee (CEBC) to support the role of the Chief Community and Environmental Biosecurity Officer. The CEBC should comprise government and external community and environmental biosecurity experts and representatives from both the animal and plant sectoral committees of the NBC. The role of the CEBC should be reviewed following its work to prioritise national biosecurity risks impacting on the environment and social amenity (Recommendation 11).

Agriculture supported and helped lead the establishment of the new Environment and Invasives Committee (EIC) and provides secretariat support for this committee. The EIC replaces the Invasive Plants and Animals Committee, but has a greater focus on environmental biosecurity issues. The CEBO will chair this committee.

Recommendation 11:

The NBC should adopt a systematic approach to determine and plan for national priority pests and diseases:

• Three national priority lists—one each for animal, plant and environmental pests and diseases—should be developed in partnership with system participants.

• The three national lists should be completed by 2020.

• Thereafter, the NBC should lead reviews of the national priority lists at least every five years, reporting to AGSOC and AGMIN.

Priority lists have been established for animals and plants. Agriculture is leading work on development of a priority list for environmental pests of concern. NBC is expected to endorse this list in mid-2019.

In July 2017, the department commenced the development of a national priority list of exotic environmental pests and diseases. Public consultation on the priority list is expected inmid-2019, with the final list to be available by the end of 2019. Agriculture already maintains priority plant and animal lists and will continue to do so. The plant list is reviewed biennially or as new information becomes available. A review process for the plant list has recently been initiated, with an expected completion date of June 2019.

Recommendation 12:

The Australian Government should assign lead responsibility for driving and coordinating implementation of the National Environment and Community Biosecurity Research, Development and Extension Strategy 2016–19 to the Australian Government environment department.

The NBC has agreed that the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions will coordinate implementation of this strategy, with oversight being provided by the Environment and Invasives Committee, which includes representatives from Agriculture and Environment.





Recommendation 13:

The NBC should authorise and drive development of an agreed set of National Biosecurity R&I Priorities, in consultation with key biosecurity R&I system participants, to guide national R&I investment:

• The sectoral committees of the NBC should lead the development of sectoral and cross-sectoral level national priorities in line with the national priority exotic animal, plant and environmental risks and their pathways, once agreed.

• The NBC, CSIRO, CEBRA and ABARES should jointly develop system-level national biosecurity priorities (including for the environment) focusing on the policy and decision-making frameworks, tools, innovations and behavioural changes needed to build an effective national system.

• The NBC should determine the final integrated list of National Biosecurity R&I Priorities. The priorities should be developed within eighteen months of the IGAB review report, and should be reviewed at least every five years.

–

Recommendation 14:

To accelerate national system innovation the Australian Government should:

• establish a $25 million National Biosecurity Innovation Program to enable strategic co-investment in the system-level (including environmental) national priorities developed under Recommendation 13. The program should be funded initially for a five-year period from 2018–19 through the funding mechanisms in Chapter 8 and be administered by the Australian Government agriculture department

• increase the funding appropriation to the Rural Industries RDC by $2 million annually for a new cross-sectoral biosecurity R&I coordination and investment function for the RDCs. Cross-sectoral investments should be in line with the national cross-sectoral priorities developed under Recommendation 13

• require RDCs to invest in and report against the new National Biosecurity R&I Priorities through additional provisions in each RDC statutory funding agreement. Cross-sectoral biosecurity R&I will be coordinated by the Rural Industries RDC.

On 29 June 2018 the Australian Government announced the establishment of a $25.2 million Biosecurity Innovation Program.

Agriculture is working to establish the Biosecurity Innovation Program, which was announced on 29 June 2018. The program will cost $25.2 million over five years. Agriculture is working with RDCs on progress against the national rural research and development priorities.





Recommendation 34:

Funding for the national biosecurity system should be increased by:

• implementing a per-container levy on incoming shipping containers of $10 per twenty-foot equivalent unit and a levy of $5 on incoming air containers, effective from 1 July 2019

• increasing the Passenger Movement Charge by $5, effective from 1 July 2022, with the revenue generated hypothecated to the Australian Government agriculture department for use nationally to enhance activities across Australia’s biosecurity system

• more widespread implementation by states and territories of land-based levies, with each jurisdiction to determine the magnitude of a levy based on its circumstances, but to include properties at least two hectares or greater.

The revenue raised by these mechanisms should be directed to those areas of the national biosecurity system that are currently most underfunded, with a priority for strengthening environmental biosecurity activities, national monitoring and surveillance activities, R&I and national communications and awareness activities.

–

Recommendation 37:

The emergency response deeds for aquatic animals and exotic production weeds should be finalised within eighteen months of the IGAB review report.

The NBC, through the aquatic deed working group and the exotic weed taskforce, is continuing to progress the development of national arrangements for rapid response to aquatic emergency animal disease outbreaks (Aquatic deed) and exotic production weeds (Weed deed). A complete draft of the Aquatic Deed is now available. Government and aquatic animal industries have been consulted regularly throughout its development. A draft of the Weed deed is expected to be developed in 2019.The emergency response funding announced on29 June 2018 will increase Agriculture’s response budget to meet deed responsibilities under new and current deeds.

AGMiN Agriculture Ministers Forum. Agriculture Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. AGSOC Agriculture Senior Officials committee. CEBC Community and Environment Biosecurity Committee. iGAB Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity. iGAB2: Revised Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity. NBC National Biosecurity Committee. NEBRA National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement. Source: Craik, Palmer & Sheldrake 2017


Appendix D

Policy and legal frameworks for environmental biosecurity in Australia

TABLE D1 International agreements on environmental biosecurity

Name Jurisdiction/agency with primary responsibility

Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources

Convention on Biological Diversity Commonwealth/Department of the Environment and Energy

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

Commonwealth/Department of the Environment and Energy

International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (The Ballast Water Management Convention)


International Plant Protection Convention Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources

International Maritime Organisation Convention Commonwealth/Department of the Environment and Energy Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources

Commonwealth/Australian Maritime Safety Authority

World Organisation for Animal Health Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources

Memorandum of Understanding with PNG and Timor-Leste and Subsidiary Agreement with Indonesia




TABLE D2 Intergovernmental agreements on environmental biosecurity


Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity All jurisdictionsNational Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement All jurisdictionsIntergovernmental Agreement on the Environment All jurisdictionsHeads of agreement on Commonwealth and state and territory roles and responsibilities for the Environment

All jurisdictions

Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement All jurisdictionsEmergency Plant Pest Response Deed All jurisdictionsNational System for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions

All jurisdictions

ACT/NSW Biosecurity Memorandum of Understanding ACT/Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate, NSW/Department of Primary Industries

WA Memorandum of Understanding Western Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Western Australia/Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions Western Australia/Forests Products Commission

TABLE D3 National, state and territory legislation on environmental biosecurity


Biosecurity Act 2015 (and regulations and notices)


Biological Control Act 1984 (and regulations and notices)


Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Act 1992 and Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994 (and regulations and notices)


Commonwealth/Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority

Natural Heritage Trust of Australia ACT 1997

Commonwealth/Department of the Energy and Environment

Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesFisheries Management Act 1991 Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources

Commonwealth/Australian Fisheries Management AuthorityImported Food Control Act 1992 Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesEnvironment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (and Regulations 2000)


Environment Protection and Management Ordinance 1987 (made pursuant to the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Act 1953)


Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980


Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981

Commonwealth/ Department of the Environment and Energy

Local Government Act Shire of Christmas Island Cats Local Law 2010

Local Government/Shire of Christmas Island

Fisheries Management Act 2007 South Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA





Natural Resources Management Act 2004 South Australia/Department of Environment, Water and Natural ResourcesAquaculture Act 2001 South Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regions SAEnvironment Protection Act 1999 South Australia/Environment Protection AuthorityBiological Control Act 1986 South Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regions SAAgricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Act 1994

South Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA

Livestock Act 1997 South Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regions SANational Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 South Australia/Department of Environment, Water and Natural ResourcesMarine Parks Act 2007 South Australia/Department of Environment, Water and Natural ResourcesAnimal Welfare Act 1985 South Australia/Department of Environment, Water and Natural ResourcesDog and Cat Management Act 1995 South Australia/Department of Environment, Water and Natural ResourcesPlant Health Act 2009 South Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regions SABiological Control Act 1986 Tasmania/Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & EnvironmentWeed Management Act 1999 and Weed Management Regulations 2000

Tasmania/Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment

Nature Conservation Act 2002 Tasmania/Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & EnvironmentWildlife (Exhibited Animals) Regulations 2010 and the Wildlife (General) Regulations 2010


Vermin Control Act 2000 Tasmania/Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & EnvironmentCat Management Act 2009 Tasmania/Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & EnvironmentLiving Marine Resources Management Act 1995


Inland Fisheries Act 1995 Tasmania/Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & EnvironmentBiosecurity Act 2015 (and regulations), Biosecurity Order (Permitted Activities) 2017 and supporting policies and procedures

New South Wales/Department of Primary Industries

Biological Control Act 1985 New South Wales/Department of Primary IndustriesState Emergency Rescue Management Act 1989

New South Wales/Department of Primary Industries

Local Land services Act 2015 New South Wales/Local Land Services

New South Wales/Department of Primary IndustriesBiodiversity Conservation Act 2016 New South Wales/Office of Environment and HeritageNational Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 New South Wales/Office of Environment and HeritageEnvironmental Trust Act 1998 New South Wales/Office of Environment and HeritageBiological Control Act 1986 Northern Territory/Department of Primary Industry and ResourcesPlant Health Act 2008; Plant Health Regulations 2011

Northern Territory/Department of Primary Industry and Resources

Weeds Management Act 2001 Northern Territory/Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesTerritory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1977

Northern Territory/Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Livestock Act 2008 Northern Territory/Department of Primary Industry and ResourcesAnimal Diseases Act 2005 ACT/Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development DirectoratePlant Diseases Act 2002 ACT/Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development DirectoratePest Plant and Animals Act 2005 ACT/Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development DirectorateNature Conservation Act 2014 ACT/Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development DirectorateBiosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007

Western Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development





Biological Control Act 1986 Western Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Fish Resources Management Act 1994 and Regulations 1995


Aquatic Resource Management Act 2016 and Regulations 1995


Pearling Act 1990 and Regulations Western Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Exotic Diseases of Animals Act 1993 and Regulations


Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 Western Australia/Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and AttractionsConservation and Land Management Act 1984 and supporting regulations and Forest Management Regulations 1993

Western Australia/Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

Western Australia/Forest Products Commission

Biosecurity Act 2014 (and regulations and notices)

Queensland/Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

Biological Control Act 1987 Queensland/Department of Agriculture and FisheriesExhibited Animals Act 2015, section 17 Queensland/Department of Agriculture and FisheriesNature Conservation Act 1992 (and regulations and notices)

Queensland/Department of Environment and Heritage Protection

Conservation Forests and Lands Act 1987 Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and PlanningCatchment and Land Protection Act 1994 Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Victoria/Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources

Biological Control Act 1986 Victoria/Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources

Domestic Animals Act 1994 Victoria/Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources

Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and PlanningWildlife Act 1975 Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning


Agriculture and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of use) Act 1992


Fisheries Act 1995 Victoria/Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources

Environment Protection Act 1970 Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and PlanningNational Parks Act 1975 Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Victoria/Parks VictoriaPrevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 Victoria/Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport

and ResourcesEmergency Management Act 2013 Victoria/Emergency Management VictoriaGame Management Authority Act 2014 Victoria/Game Management AuthorityForests Act 1958 Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and PlanningPort Management Act 1995 and Marine Safety Act 2010




TABLE D4 National, state and territory strategies/plans/lists on environmental biosecurity


AQUAPLAN 2014–2019 Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesAustralian Aquatic Veterinary Emergency Plan (AQUAVETPLAN)


Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN)

Animal Health Australia

Australian Pest Animal Strategy Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Commonwealth/Department of the Environment and Energy

Guidelines for the Import, Movement and Keeping of Non-Indigenous Vertebrate Animals in Australia


Australian Weeds Strategy Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Commonwealth/Department of the Environment and Energy

Biosecurity Compliance Statement Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesBiosecurity Incident Management System Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesBiodiversity Conservation Strategy Commonwealth/Department of the Environment and EnergyBiosecurity Risk Management Operating Model


Critical Incident Response Plan Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesNational Biosecurity Response Team Arrangements 2017–2019

Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources/Animal Health Australia/Plant Health Australia

Engagement and communication strategy for consulting with community and environmental stakeholders


Emergency Marine Pest Plan Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesMarine Pest Plan 2017–2022 Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesNational Animal Biosecurity Research, Development and Extension Strategy

Animal Health Australia/Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources

National Animal Health Surveillance and Diagnostics Strategy

National Animal Health Surveillance and Diagnostics Business Plan 2016–19


National Diagnostic Protocols Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesNational Environment and Community Research, development and Extension Strategy


National Framework for Management of Established Pests and Diseases of National Significance


National Plant Biosecurity Strategy Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesNational Plant Biosecurity Diagnostic Strategy


National Plant Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy


National Plant Biosecurity Research, Development and Extension Strategy






National Primary Industries Research, Development and Extension Framework and strategies developed under this framework


National Surveillance and Diagnostics Framework


National Wild Dog Action Plan Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources/Invasive Animals CRC

The Science Strategy Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesRural Research and Development Priorities


The Country Action List Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesThe National List of Notifiable Animal Diseases


Australian Priority Marine Pests List Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesThe National List of Notifiable Aquatic Animal Diseases


National Priority Plant Pests List Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesWeeds of National Significance Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water

Resources Commonwealth/Department of the Environment and EnergyNational Ornamental Fish Strategy Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesNational RD&E Invasive Species Plan Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesNational System for Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions


Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy Target Lists


List of specimens taken to be suitable for live import, 2001


Threat Abatement Plans for key threatening processes established under under the EPBC Act


National incursion prevention and response strategy for potentially invasive animals 2017–2022 (in draft)

Invasive Plant and Animal Committee/Centre for Invasive Species Solutions

National incursion response plan for terrestrial snakes 2016

Invasive Plant and Animal Committee/Centre for Invasive Species Solutions

List of exotic vertebrate animals in Australia 2007

Invasive Plant and Animal Committee Incursion Expert Group

Booderee National Park Management Pan 2015–2025

Commonwealth/Director of National Parks

Christmas Island National Park Management Plan 2014–2024


Kakadu National Park Plan of Management 2016–2026


Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden Management Plan 2008–2018






Pulu Keeling National Park Management Plan 2015–2025


South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network Management Plan 2013–2023


Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Management Plan 2010–2020


Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve Management Plan 2014–2024


Kakadu National Park Feral Animal Management Strategy 2006–2016


Kakadu National Park Weeds Strategy 2004–14 (new draft in progress)


State Natural Resources Management Plan 2012–2017

South Australia/Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources

National Noxious Fish List South Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regions SAState Biosecurity Policy 2017–2021 South Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regions SASA State Buffel Grass Strategic Plan 2012–2017


State Opuntioid Cacti Management Plan South Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regions SASouth Australian Myrtle Rust Contingency Plan

South Australia/Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources

South Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regions SASouth Australian Tramp Ants Policy Discussion Paper


Policy and procedures for the import, movement and keeping of vertebrate wildlife in Tasmania


Importing and Keeping Birds in Tasmania Tasmania/Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment

Tasmanian Biosecurity Strategy 2013–2017 Tasmania/Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment

NSW Biosecurity Strategy 2013–2021 New South Wales/Department of Primary IndustriesSaving our Species; Species Projects New South Wales/Office of Environment and HeritageSaving our Species; Key Threatening Process Strategies

New South Wales/Office of Environment and Heritage

Threat Abatement Plan for Predation by the red fox Vulpes vulpes


Threat Abatement Plan for Invasion of native plant communities by Chrysamthemoides monilifera (bitou bush and boneseed)






Biodiversity Priorities for Widespread Weeds


North Coast Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan 2017–2022

New South Wales/North Coast Local Land Services and partners

Hastings Wild Deer Management Strategy 2016–2018

New South Wales/North Coast Local Land Services and partners

North Coast Region Wild Dog Management Plan 2015–2020

New South Wales/North Coast Local Land Services

Murray Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan 2017–2022

New South Wales/Murray Local Land Services and partners

Hume, Upper Murray & Tumbarumba Wild Dog Management Plans 2015–2020

New South Wales/Murray Local Land Services

New South Wales/National Parks and Wildlife Services

New South Wales/Forestry Corporation NSW and private foresters and private land managers

NT Biosecurity Strategy 2016–2026 Northern Territory/Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesStatutory Weed Management Plans for individual high priority species (Neem, Athel pine, Bellyache bush, Gamba grass, Cabomba, Mimosa)


Regional Weed Management Plans (Darwin, Katherine, Barkly, Alice Springs)


Weed Management Strategy for Crown Managed Lands


Northern Territory/Department of Infrastructure, Planning and LogisticsIntegrated Natural Resource Management Plan (Territory Natural Resource Management)

Northern Territory/Territory Natural Resource Management

ACT Biosecurity Strategy 2016–2026 ACT/Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development DirectorateThe ACT Pest Animal Management Strategy 2012–2022

ACT/Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate

The ACT Weeds Strategy 2009–2019 ACT/Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development DirectorateWestern Australian Biosecurity Strategy 2016–2025


Western Australia/Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions

Western Australia/Forests Products CommissionInvasive Species Plan for Western Australia 2015–2019


Western Australia/Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions

WA Surveillance Strategy for Invasive Species 2017–2022






State notifiable disease list Western Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Forest Management Plan 2014–2023, and other area management plan prepared in accordance with the Conservation and Land Management Act 1982

Western Australia/Conservation and Parks Commission


Cane toad strategy for Western Australia 2014–2019


Wild dog management strategy Queensland/Department of Agriculture and FisheriesWeeds and Pest Animals Strategy (draft—post public consultation)


Feral deer management strategy 2013–2018


Back on Track species prioritisation framework/The Spring

Queensland/Department of Environment and Heritage Protection

Queensland State of the Environment Queensland/Department of Environment and Heritage ProtectionInvasive Plants and Animals Policy Framework and associated modules


Action Plan for Managing Wild Dogs in Victoria 2014–2019

Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning


Victoria/Parks VictoriaProtecting Victoria’s Environment—Biodiversity 2037

Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (note the Victorian CMA’s utilise this strategy)

Protection of Alpine National Park—Feral Horse Strategic Action Plan 2018–2020 (draft)

Victoria/Parks Victoria

Greater Alpine National Parks Management Plan


Victorian Waterway Management Strategy Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and PlanningDeer in Victoria’s Parks and Reserves Management Framework (draft)


Goulburn Broken Water Plan 2014–2022 Victoria/Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority Goulburn Broken Biodiversity Strategy 2016–2021

Victoria/Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority

Our Catchment Our Communities Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and PlanningRegional Catchment Strategies Victoria/Each of the ten Catchment Management Authorities Emergency Management Manual Victoria Victoria/Emergency Management VictoriaSustainable Hunting Action Plan 2016–2020


Code of Practice for Bushfire Management on Public Land






Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014



Codes of Practices for Feral Pig, Feral Goat, Fox, Rabbit and Wild Dog Control


Forest and Fire Management Science Catalogue


East Gippsland Feral Pig Management Plan and East Gippsland Feral Pig Options Paper


Wimmera Waterway Strategy 2014–2022 Victoria/Wimmera Catchment Management AuthorityWimmera Carbon Ready Plan Victoria/Wimmera Catchment Management AuthorityWimmera Invasive Plant Animal Management Strategy

Victoria/Wimmera Catchment Management Authority

Envi

ronm

ent a

nd In

vasiv

es C

omm

ittee

Wor

king

Gro

ups

NBC

Sect

oral

Com

mitt

ees

GOVE

RNAN

CE A

RRAN

GEM

ENTS

– E

NVIR

ON

MEN

TAL

BIO

SECU

RITY

Agric

ultu

re M

inist

ers’

Foru

m (A

GMIN

)AG

MIN

faci

litat

es c

olla

bora

tion

betw

een

Aust

ralia

n, st

ate

and

terr

itory

and

the

New

Zea

land

gov

ernm

ents

on

agric

ultu

ral i

ssue

s of n

atio

nal s

igni

fican

ce, i

nclu

ding

bio

secu

rity.

Agric

ultu

re Se

nior

Offi

cials

Com

mitt

ee (A

GSOC

)AG

SOC

com

prise

s hea

ds o

f the

Aus

tral

ian,

stat

e an

d te

rrito

ry a

nd th

e Ne

w Z

eala

nd d

epar

tmen

ts w

ith re

spon

sibili

ty fo

r prim

ary

indu

strie

s an

d pr

ovid

es a

dvic

e to

AGM

IN o

n bi

osec

urity

issu

es.

Natio

nal B

iose

curit

y Co

mm

ittee

(NBC

) – Th

e N

BC is

resp

onsib

le fo

r pro

vidi

ng a

dvic

e to

AGS

OC

and

AGM

IN o

n na

tiona

l bio

secu

rity

issue

s.

Inte

rgov

ernm

enta

l Agr

eem

ent o

n Bi

osec

urity

(IGA

B)

The

IGAB

is a

n ag

reem

ent b

etw

een

the

Com

mon

wea

lth a

nd a

ll st

ate

and

terr

itory

gov

ernm

ents

that

aim

s to

stre

ngth

en w

orki

ng p

artn

ersh

ips a

nd im

prov

e th

e na

tiona

l bio

secu

rity

syst

em.

Polic

y/pl

anni

ngPr

epar

edne

ssRe

spon

se

Plan

t Hea

lth

Com

mitt

ee (P

HC)

Advi

ses g

over

nmen

ts o

n pl

ant a

nd e

nviro

nmen

tal

bios

ecur

ity th

roug

h N

BC

and

AGSO

C.

Anim

al H

ealth

Co

mm

ittee

(AHC

)Ad

vise

s gov

ernm

ents

on

terr

estr

ial,

aqua

tic a

nd

envi

ronm

enta

l bi

osec

urity

thro

ugh

NBC

, AG

SOC

& A

GMIN

.

Mar

ine

Pest

Sec

tora

l Co

mm

ittee

(MPS

C)De

velo

ps &

coo

rdin

ates

th

e im

plem

enta

tion

of

natio

nal a

rran

gem

ents

to

redu

ce m

arin

e bi

osec

urity

risk

s.

Envi

ronm

ent a

nd In

vasi

ves C

omm

ittee

(EIC

) – T

he E

IC p

rovi

des n

atio

nal p

olic

y le

ader

ship

on

the

man

agem

ent o

f env

ironm

enta

l bio

secu

rity.

Fres

hwat

er v

erte

brat

es &

in

vert

ebra

tes w

orki

ng g

roup

Wee

ds w

orki

ng

grou

pEn

viro

nmen

tal b

iose

curit

y ad

viso

ry g

roup

Terr

estr

ial i

nver

tebr

ates

w

orki

ng g

roup

Terr

estr

ial v

erte

brat

es

wor

king

gro

up

Coor

dina

tor –

Nat

iona

l Env

ironm

ent a

nd C

omm

unity

Bio

secu

rity

Rese

arch

De

velo

pmen

t and

Ext

ensi

on (R

D&E)

Str

ateg

y –

The

stra

tegy

aim

s to

est

ablis

h a

natio

nal c

oord

inat

ed a

nd st

rate

gic

appr

oach

to e

nviro

nmen

tal b

iose

curit

y RD

&E.

Nat

iona

l Bio

secu

rity

Emer

genc

y Pr

epar

edne

ss

Grou

p (N

BEPE

G)

Enha

nces

bio

secu

rity

emer

genc

y pr

epar

edne

ss,

resp

onse

and

initi

al

reco

very

arr

ange

men

ts.

Nat

iona

l Env

ironm

enta

l Bio

secu

rity

Resp

onse

Agr

eem

ent (

NEB

RA)

Sign

ed in

201

2, th

e N

EBRA

est

ablis

hes t

he n

atio

nal a

rran

gem

ents

for

resp

ondi

ng to

sig

nific

ant p

est a

nd d

isea

se in

curs

ions

whe

re th

ere

are

pred

omin

antly

pub

lic b

enef

its.

NEB

RA c

usto

dian

Coor

dina

tes

NEBR

A de

cisio

n m

akin

g fo

rum

s & d

evel

ops

cost

sh

arin

g ar

rang

emen

ts.

NEB

RA A

dmin

istra

tion

Grou

pRe

spon

sible

for c

onsid

erin

g an

d im

plem

entin

g th

e ou

tcom

es o

f the

20

17 N

EBRA

revi

ew.

Nat

iona

l Bio

secu

rity

Man

agem

ent G

roup

(NBM

G)De

cisio

n m

akin

g bo

dy fo

r exo

tic e

nviro

nmen

tal p

lant

pes

t and

ani

mal

di

seas

e er

adic

atio

n pr

ogra

ms u

nder

the

NEBR

A.

Tech

nica

l Con

sulta

tive

Com

mitt

ees

Coor

dina

ting

bodi

es p

rovi

ding

tech

nica

l lin

ks b

etw

een

gove

rnm

ents

and

in

dust

ry fo

r dec

isio

n m

akin

g du

ring

bios

ecur

ity in

cide

nts.

Con

sulta

tive

com

mitt

ees a

re fo

rmed

dur

ing

spec

ific

incid

ents

and

invo

lves

rele

vant

te

chni

cal e

xper

tise.

Appendix E

Governance arrangements

Inte

r-age

ncy

agre

emen

ts

Polic

y/Pl

anni

ng

Reso

urce

s

Trai

ning

/Ex

cerc

ises

CHIE

F EN

VIRO

NM

ENTA

L BI

OSE

CURI

TY O

FFIC

ER –

The

IGAB

revi

ew re

com

men

ded

the

esta

blish

men

t of t

he p

ositi

on o

f Chi

ef E

nviro

nmen

tal B

iose

curit

y O

ffice

r (CE

BO) t

o pr

ovid

e a

focu

s for

nat

iona

l Env

ironm

enta

l bio

secu

rity

resp

onse

and

en

gage

men

t. Th

e CE

BO w

as a

ppoi

nted

in la

te 2

018

NAT

IONA

L EN

VIRO

NMEN

TAL P

RIO

RITY

LIST

- In

mid

-201

7, th

e de

part

men

t com

men

ced

wor

king

with

the

Aust

ralia

n Bu

reau

of A

gricu

ltura

l and

Res

ourc

e Ec

onom

ics a

nd S

cienc

es to

dev

elop

a na

tiona

l prio

rity

list o

f exo

tic e

nviro

nmen

tal p

ests

and

dise

ases

. The

lis

t exp

ecte

d to

be

final

ised

by th

e en

d of

201

9.

DID

YMO

PREP

ARED

NESS

PLA

N -

Wor

k is c

ontin

uing

on

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f a n

atio

nal D

idym

o pr

epar

edne

ss p

lan.

Juris

dict

ions

will

be

aske

d fo

r wat

er q

ualit

y da

ta re

quire

d to

map

pot

entia

l dist

ribut

ion

of D

idym

o. W

ork w

ill th

en p

rogr

ess o

n de

velo

ping

a m

odel

NAT

IONA

L EXO

TIC

INVA

SIVE

AN

T BI

OSE

CURI

TY P

LAN

- Th

e Pl

an co

vers

act

iviti

es to

enh

ance

the

natio

nal c

apac

ity to

man

age

the

thre

at o

f inv

asiv

e an

ts a

cros

s the

Bio

secu

rity s

pect

rum

in th

e st

ages

of p

reve

ntio

n, d

etec

tion,

resp

onse

, con

tain

men

t and

ass

et-

base

d pr

otec

tion/

ongo

ing

man

agem

ent.

A dr

aft p

lan

was

rele

ased

for c

onsu

ltatio

n in

late

-201

8 an

d th

e pl

an is

bei

ng c

onsid

ered

for e

ndor

sem

ent.

ENVI

RONM

ENTA

L BI

OSE

CURI

TY R

ESPO

NSE

AND

PREP

ARED

NES

S CA

PABI

LITY

/CAP

ACIT

Y RE

VIEW

– In

Febr

uary

201

8, th

e NB

C ag

reed

that

the

NBEP

EG w

ould

lead

a re

view

of t

he b

iose

curit

y sys

tem

's pr

epar

edne

ss, a

nd re

spon

se ca

pabi

lity

and

capa

city,

for

envi

ronm

enta

l bio

secu

rity

incid

ents

. Oct

ober

201

8

NAT

IONA

L IN

CURS

ION

MAN

AGEM

ENT

FRAM

EWO

RK F

OR

INVA

SIVE

SPE

CIES

- De

velo

pmen

t of a

nat

iona

l fra

mew

ork f

or g

uidi

ng re

spon

ses t

o in

curs

ions

of i

nvas

ive sp

ecie

s whe

re th

ere

is pr

imar

ily a

pub

lic g

ood

outc

ome.

Sta

ge o

ne is

exp

ecte

d to

be

com

plet

ed

by th

e Ce

ntre

for I

nvas

ive

Spec

ies S

olut

ions

in M

arch

2019

RESP

ON

SE P

LANS

- Re

spon

se p

lans

set o

ut th

e ag

reed

app

roac

h fo

r man

agin

g an

outb

reak

invo

lving

ani

mal

dise

ases

(AU

SVET

PLAN

), aq

uatic

ani

mal

dise

ases

(AQ

UAVE

TPLA

N), p

lant

pes

ts (P

LAN

TPLA

N),

and

mar

ine

pest

s (Em

erge

ncy M

arin

e Pe

st P

lan)

. Wild

life

Heal

th A

ustr

alia

are

curr

ently

dra

fting

a W

ildlif

e He

alth

Pla

n

VERT

EBRA

TE P

EST

ERAD

ICAT

ION

- De

velo

pmen

t of t

ools

to su

ppor

t cos

t-effe

ctive

dec

ision

-mak

ing

for v

erte

brat

e Pe

st e

radi

catio

ns. T

o be

dev

elop

ed b

y the

Cen

tre

for I

nvas

ive

Spec

ies S

olut

ions

by 2

022

NEB

RA R

EVIE

W -

An in

depe

nden

t rev

iew

of t

he N

EBRA

was

del

iver

ed in

201

7. T

he re

spon

se to

the

revi

ew re

com

men

datio

ns is

bei

ng d

evel

oped

by

the

NEB

RA A

dmin

istra

tion

Gro

up (A

dmin

Gro

up),

whi

ch w

as e

stab

lishe

d by

the

Nat

iona

l Bio

secu

rity

Com

mitt

ee. A

ll ju

risdi

ctio

ns a

re re

pres

ente

d on

this

grou

p w

hich

is c

haire

d by

the

Depa

rtm

ent o

f Agr

icul

ture

and

Wat

er R

esou

rces

. A d

raft

revi

sed

NEBR

A is

expe

cted

to b

e re

leas

ed fo

r pub

lic c

onsu

ltatio

n in

mid

-201

9

FORM

AL A

RRAN

GMEN

TS —

AGR

ICU

LTUR

E AN

D E

NVI

RONM

ENT

The

2017

IGAB

revi

ew re

com

men

ded

the

esta

blish

men

t of f

orm

alise

d ar

rang

emen

ts b

etw

een

agric

ultu

re a

nd e

nviro

nmen

t.Th

e Ch

ief E

nviro

nmen

tal B

iose

curit

y O

ffice

r is w

orkin

g w

ith th

e De

partm

ent o

f the

Env

ironm

ent a

nd E

nerg

y to

form

alise

an

agre

emen

t to

wor

k to

geth

er to

stre

ngth

en e

nviro

nmen

tal b

iose

curit

y.

NEB

RATh

e N

EBRA

was

sign

ed b

y th

e Co

mm

onw

ealth

, sta

te a

nd te

rrito

ry g

over

nmen

ts in

Janu

ary

2012

. It

esta

blish

es th

e na

tiona

l arr

ange

men

ts fo

r res

pond

ing

to s

igni

fican

t pes

t and

dis

ease

incu

rsio

ns w

here

ther

e ar

e pr

edom

inan

tly p

ublic

ben

efits

. The

NEB

RA is

bei

ng re

view

ed a

nd a

dra

ft re

vise

d NE

BRA

is ex

pect

ed to

be

rele

ased

for

publ

ic co

nsul

tatio

n in

mid

-201

9

eDN

ADe

velo

pmen

t of r

eal t

ime

eDNA

tool

s to

impr

ove

early

dete

ctio

n an

d re

spon

se a

ppro

ache

s for

hig

h ris

k pe

stan

imal

s by

the

Cent

re fo

r Inv

asiv

e Sp

ecie

s Sol

utio

ns b

y 20

22

CHIE

F EN

VIRO

NM

ENTA

L BI

OSE

CURI

TY O

FFIC

ERTh

e IG

AB re

view

reco

mm

ende

d th

e es

tabl

ishm

ent o

f the

po

sitio

n of

Chi

ef E

nviro

nmen

tal B

iose

curit

y O

ffice

r to

prov

ide

a fo

cus f

or n

atio

nal e

nviro

nmen

tal b

iose

curit

y re

spon

se a

nd e

ngag

emen

t.

PASS

IVE

AND

ACTI

VE S

URV

EILL

ANC

E TO

OLS

AND

N

ETW

ORK

STh

e es

tabl

ishm

ent o

f an

ongo

ing

natio

nal s

urve

illan

cene

twor

k in

tim

e to

mou

nt fe

asib

le re

spon

ses

to b

e de

velo

ped

by th

e Ce

ntre

for I

nvas

ive

Spec

ies

Solu

tions

by

2022

NAT

ION

AL B

IOSE

CURI

TY R

ESPO

NSE

TEA

M (N

BRT)

The

NBR

T is

a gr

oup

of tr

aine

d an

d ex

perie

nced

pers

onne

l tha

t may

be

depl

oyed

to a

ssist

a ju

risdi

ctio

nin

the

resp

onse

to a

nim

al, p

lant

, aqu

atic

or

envi

ronm

enta

l bio

secu

rity

incid

ents

.Th

e N

BRT

was

est

ablis

hed

in Ju

ly 2

017

EXER

CISE

BO

RDER

BRI

DGE

The

exer

cise

occ

urre

d in

Mar

ch 2

018

to a

sses

s the

capa

bilit

y of

New

Sou

th W

ales

and

Que

ensla

nd to

resp

ond

to

a bi

osec

urity

inci

dent

occ

urrin

g ac

ross

bot

h ju

risdi

ctio

ns. T

he sc

enar

io w

as b

ased

on

a pe

st a

nd d

isea

se

incu

rsio

n th

at a

ffec

ted

lives

tock

and

the

plan

t pro

duct

ion

indu

strie

s. Th

is Ex

erci

se a

lso

invo

lved

env

ironm

enta

l bi

osec

urity

ele

men

ts. T

he e

xerc

ise

repo

rt w

as re

leas

ed in

late

201

8

Bios

ecur

ity E

mer

genc

y Re

spon

se T

rain

ers

Aust

ralia

Resp

onsib

le fo

r dev

elop

ing

trai

ning

and

as

sess

men

t mat

eria

ls fo

r all

bios

ecur

ityin

cide

nts

EXER

CISE

CRO

WN

AN

D AN

CHO

RTh

e ex

erci

se o

ccur

red

in C

anbe

rra,

ACT

, in

Mar

ch 2

019.

It a

imed

to e

nhan

ce

emer

genc

y re

spon

se a

rran

gem

ents

dur

ing

a bi

osec

urity

inci

dent

in a

Co

mm

onw

ealth

-gov

erne

d lo

catio

n w

ith th

e po

tent

ial t

o sp

read

into

an

adjo

inin

g ju

risdi

ctio

n. T

he d

iscus

sion

exe

rcise

was

bas

ed o

n tw

o sc

enar

ios,

det

ectio

n of

Var

roa

dest

ruct

or in

Jerv

is B

ay a

nd R

ed Im

port

ed F

ire A

nts a

t Can

berr

a Ai

rpor

t.

ENVI

RONM

ENTA

L BIO

SECU

RITY

PRE

PARE

DNES

S AN

D RE

SPON

SE A

CTIV

ITIE

S

Prev

entio

nPr

epar

edne

ssRe

spon

se

Appendix F

Environmental biosecurity preparedness and response activities


Dire

ct C

onsi

dera

tion

of E

nviro

nmen

tal B

iose

curit

y Su

ppor

ting

Cons

ider

atio

n of

Env

ironm

enta

l Bio

secu

rity

Grou

ps w

ithou

t an

envi

ronm

enta

l rep

rese

ntat

ive

Natio

nal/C

omm

onw

ealth

Gov

ernm

ent

Aust

ralia

n M

arin

e Pe

st re

sear

ch N

etwo

rkAu

stra

lian

Alps

Liai

son

Com

mitt

eeBa

t hea

lth fo

cus g

roup

Chris

tmas

Isla

nd C

at Er

adica

tion

Stee

ring

Com

mitt

eeCh

ristm

as Is

land

Cat

Erad

icatio

n Te

chni

cal a

nd Sc

ient

ific S

ub C

omm

ittee

Cons

ulta

tive C

omm

ittee

on

Intr

oduc

ed M

arin

e Pe

st Em

erge

ncie

sCo

nsul

tativ

e Com

mitt

ee fo

r Exo

tic P

lant I

ncur

sions

Envir

onm

enta

l Bio

secu

rity R

ound

tabl

eIn

vasiv

e Plan

ts an

d An

imals

Com

mitt

eeIM

ArES

T Bio

foul

ing

Man

agem

ent S

pecia

l Int

eres

t Gro

upM

arin

e Pe

st Se

ctor

al C

omm

ittee

Natio

nal B

iose

curit

y M

anag

emen

t Con

sulta

tive

Com

mitt

ees

Natio

nal R

ed Im

porte

d Fi

re A

nt Er

adica

tion

Prog

ram

Stee

ring C

omm

ittee

Natio

nal B

iose

curit

y M

anag

emen

t Gro

upNa

tiona

l Fer

al C

at T

askf

orce

Wild

life

Healt

h Au

stral

ia Co

ordi

nato

r Gro

up

Stat

e an

d Te

rrito

ry G

over

nmen

tAC

T Pe

st A

nim

al M

anag

emen

t Com

mitt

eeAC

T W

eeds

Adv

isory

Gro

upNS

W H

astin

gs W

ild D

eer W

orki

ng G

roup

NSW

Mur

ray

Regi

onal

Wee

ds C

omm

ittee

NSW

Nor

th C

oast

Reg

iona

l Wee

ds C

omm

ittee

NSW

Nor

th E

ast P

est A

nim

al A

dvis

ory

Com

mitt

eeNS

W N

orth

Wes

t Reg

iona

l Wee

ds C

omm

ittee

NSW

Tro

pica

l Sod

a Ap

ple

Task

forc

eNo

rthe

rn T

errit

ory

Wee

ds A

dviso

ry C

omm

ittee

NT Z

oono

ses a

nd E

nviro

nmen

tal P

atho

gens

Com

mitt

eeQ

LD S

tate

Lan

ds P

est M

anag

emen

t Com

mitt

eeQ

ueen

sland

Inva

sive

Plan

ts a

nd A

nim

als C

omm

ittee

SA B

uffe

l Gra

ss T

askf

orce

SA D

ecla

red

Plan

ts W

orki

ng G

roup

SA M

arin

e Bi

osec

urity

For

umSA

NRM

Pes

t Ani

mal

And

Pla

nt M

anag

emen

t Net

wor

kVI

C Es

tabl

ished

Pes

t Ani

mal

s ad

Wee

ds P

roje

ct D

elive

ry L

eade

rshi

p G

roup

VIC

Blac

kber

ry T

askf

orce

VIC

Gors

e Ta

skfo

rce

VIC

Serr

ated

Tus

sock

Wor

king

Gro

upVI

C Ca

rp C

ontr

ol B

oard

and

Wor

king

Gro

upPa

rks V

itoria

Fer

al H

orse

Tec

hnica

l Ref

eren

ce G

roup

VIC

North

Eas

t Dee

r For

umVI

C Hu

me

Regi

onal

Dee

r Rou

ndta

ble

VIC

Sprin

ghur

st R

abbi

t Rou

ndta

ble

and

othe

r reg

iona

l rab

bit f

orum

sVi

ctor

ian

Wild

Dog

Man

agem

ent A

dviso

ry C

omm

ittee

WA

Dieb

ack W

orki

ng G

roup

WA

Fres

hwat

er F

ish E

xper

t Gro

up

Natio

nal/C

omm

onw

ealth

Gov

ernm

ent

Agric

ultu

re M

inis

ters

For

umAg

ricul

ture

Sen

ior O

fficia

ls Co

mm

ittee

Anim

al H

ealth

Com

mitt

eeAq

uatic

Con

sulta

tive C

omm

ittee

on

Emer

genc

y Ani

mal

Dise

ase

Aust

rala

sian

Envi

ronm

enta

l Law

Enf

orce

men

t and

Reg

ulat

ors N

etw

ork

Bios

ecur

ity R

esea

rch

Stee

ring C

omm

ittee

Bios

ecur

ity R

ound

tabl

esCo

nsul

tativ

e Co

mm

ittee

on

Emer

genc

y An

imal

Dise

ase

Cons

ulta

tive C

omm

ittee

on

Emer

genc

y Pla

nt P

ests

Cons

ulta

tive G

roup

on

Bios

ecur

ity C

oope

ratio

nN

atio

nal B

iose

curit

y Co

mm

ittee

Natio

nal B

iose

curit

y Em

erge

ncy

Prep

ared

ness

Exp

ert G

roup

Nat

iona

l Man

agem

ent G

roup

sN

orth

ern

Aust

ralia

Bio

secu

rity F

ram

ewor

k Re

fere

nce

Gro

up

Plan

t Hea

lth C

omm

ittee

Qua

rant

ine

Regu

lato

rs M

eetin

gRe

sear

ch &

Inno

vatio

n Co

mm

ittee

Sub-

com

mitt

ee o

n Aq

uatic

Ani

mal

Heal

thSu

bcom

mitt

ee o

n D

omes

tic Q

uara

ntin

e an

d M

arke

t Acc

ess

Subc

omm

ittee

on

Natio

nal P

lant H

ealth

Surv

eilla

nce

Subc

omm

ittee

on

Plan

t Hea

lth D

iagno

stics

Thre

aten

ed S

peci

es S

cien

tific

Com

mitt

ee

Stat

e an

d Te

rrito

ry G

over

nmen

tAC

T Bi

osec

urity

Coo

rdin

atio

n Co

mm

ittee

Bios

ecur

ity Q

ueen

sland

Min

ister

ial A

dviso

ry C

ounc

ilN

SW B

iose

curit

y Ad

viso

ry C

omm

ittee

SA B

iose

curit

y Adv

isory

Com

mitt

ee to

Kan

garo

o Isl

and

NRM

Boa

rdSA

Nat

ural

Res

ourc

es M

anag

emen

t Boa

rds

VIC

Regi

onal

Bio

dive

rsity

Rec

over

y G

roup

sVI

C Sc

ientif

ic Ad

visor

y Com

mitt

eeW

A Bi

osec

urity

Cou

ncil

WA

Bios

ecur

ity S

enio

r Offi

cers

Gro

upW

A D

PIRD

Live

stoc

k Bio

secu

rity c

onsu

ltativ

e gr

oups

WA

Thre

aten

ed S

peci

es S

cient

ific

Com

mitt

ee

Appendix G

List of committees, forums and groups that support government management of environmental biosecurity


Appendix H

Responses to NEBRA review recommendations

The Australian Government is working with other NEBRA signatories to respond to the review through the National Biosecurity Committee (NBC).

Recommendation Update from NEBRA secretariat by February 2019

Recommendation 1:

The language used in the NEBRA to describe stakeholders should be consistent with that used in the broader IGAB and the other biosecurity response agreements (EADRA and EPPRD).

The NBC most recently considered this recommendation at the NEBRA review specific workshop held on 18 December 2018. NBC are currently finalising the outcomes of their workshop and we expect more information to be available in late March.

Recommendation 2:

The Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water Resources should remain as the custodian of NEBRA. If, following the IGAB Review, a new entity is created with responsibility for environmental biosecurity, consideration should be given to the role the entity should play in relation to NEBRA custodianship.

The NBC most recently considered this recommendation at the NEBRA review specific workshop held on 18 December 2018. NBC are currently finalising the outcomes of their workshop and we expect more information to be available in late March.

Recommendation 3:

National Biosecurity Management Group (NBMG) meetings should be co-chaired by an executive from the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Energy (DoEE), potentially the Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer if that position is created following the IGAB Review.

Jurisdictions have noted that Environment is already a member of the NBMG and has influence in decisions through this channel. However, a co-chair for meetings duplicates activities and would make NBMG decision-making more complex.

Recommendation 4:

NBMG members should undertake formal consultation with their environment agency counterparts in each jurisdiction prior to any substantive decision being made under the NEBRA.

Jurisdictions have noted that environmental agencies are consulted at both the National Biosecurity Management Consultative Committee (NBMCC) and NBMG levels and have raised concern that making this consultation a formal requirement may delay decision-making in an emergency response.




Recommendation 5:

The NEBRA custodian role should be enhanced to support a maturing NEBRA. Areas of focus include greater public transparency around decision-making, greater support for the development of interpretative guides,enhanced communication with non-government stakeholders and general co-ordination of stakeholder activity. An enhanced custodian role would require a greater level of resourcing for the NEBRA custodian role.

NBC is currently considering options for an enhanced NEBRA custodian that is cost-shared between jurisdictions.

Recommendation 6:

The NEBRA Administrative Group formed for the purpose of guiding this review should be instituted as an ongoing body to enable the states and territories to support and engage with an enhanced NEBRA custodian. It would also facilitate continuity of oversight and allow for feedback to the custodian in a structured manner.

The EIC was established after the NEBRA review report was delivered and provides overarching administration, policy advice and engagement on the NEBRA where this falls outside the custodian role. With the EIC in place, there is little need for the NEBRA Administrative Group to exist past its role in relation to the review.

Recommendation 7:

A summary of decisions made by NBMGs on whether or not to apply NEBRA should be made publicly available in a timely manner to encourage wider understanding of the operation of the agreement.

This recommendation was adopted by the NBC, in February 2018, when it agreed to the public release of information regarding NBMG decisions, excluding financial information. Currently this information is published on the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources website though the NBMG communiqués.

Recommendation 8:

The NEBRA should be re-drafted around four phases to a response: Incident Definition, Emergency Response, Proof of Freedom and Transition to Management (consistent with EPPRD). The commencement of each phase should require separate approval by NBMG of a phase plan in order to limit the scope of cost-shared activity.

Jurisdictions support the NEBRA being re-drafted around four phases of a response.

Recommendation 9:

Analysis and documentation conducted during the Incident Definition Phase should be eligible for cost sharing, contingent on an initial assessment by NBMG of the likelihood that an incident will meet NEBRA criteria and approval of an Incident Definition Plan.

Jurisdictions continue to explore this recommendation and how adopting this approach in the NEBRA will impact on the existing emergency response deed framework, in particular the well-established understanding that jurisdictions are expected to undertake certain activity as part of their ‘normal commitments’.

Recommendation 10:

The NEBRA should be re-drafted to allow for a time-limited (12 month) cost-shared Transition to Management phase. This Transition to Management phase could follow on from an Emergency Response phase where eradication has been determined no longer to be possible.

Jurisdictions have indicated support for this recommendation.




Recommendation 11:

The feasibility of conducting a five-yearly test of preparedness for the unique challenges posed by an environmental biosecurity response under NEBRA should be considered by the National Biosecurity Committee.

NBC will considered this at its October 2018 meeting.

Recommendation 12:

Meeting and decision-making protocols in NEBRA should be redrafted to reflect that:

The NBMCC provides technical and expert advice to the NBMG, it does not make decisions and its meetings should not involve voting. If members of the NBMCC hold different views all views should be incorporated into the written advice to the NBMG.

Voting membership of the NBMG should be limited to parties who will be contributing to a cost-shared response. Jurisdictions who are not potentially affected by a pest or disease or who have indicated that they do not intend to contribute to a cost-shared response should be non-voting members of the NBMG.

All decisions of the NBMG should need to be made unanimously between voting members.

Where attendance at NBMG meetings is delegated, the jurisdiction must enable that delegate to make decisions during the meeting.

Jurisdictions agree with the principles put forward in this recommendation but suggest that the NEBRA should be re-drafted to align the NBMCC and NBMG meeting protocols and definitions of consensus and unanimous, with the existing deeds.

Recommendation 13:

The NEBRA should be amended to allow any system participants to seek approval to participate in NBMG meetings as voting members if the system-participant has made (or will make)significant in-kind or financial contributions to a response in relation to an outbreak. Inclusion of system-participants as voting members should be at the discretion of the other NBMG members.

The NEBRA already allows private beneficiaries to be voting members at NBMG’s, although in practice this has never occurred. Jurisdictions are working through the guidance material needed to make the process easier and more transparent and to set an understanding about level of financial or in-kind contribution required.

Recommendation 14:

National significance for proposed NEBRA responses should be assessed in line with a broader risk prioritisation framework (such as that recommended in the draft IGAB report)rather than static criteria for national significance.

Jurisdictions note that the national significance criteria have been tested only a few times since they were agreed in 2012 and that a risk prioritization framework is not currently available to consider as an alternative.




Recommendation 15:

Benefit-cost analysis requirements and guidance in NEBRA should be revised and simplified to accept qualitative descriptions of benefits where no pre-existing studies on the cost of an outbreak are available.

Jurisdictions have indicated support for this recommendation.

Recommendation 16:

The National Biosecurity Committee should consider whether there is sufficient support to revise NEBRA to provide for cost-shared responses aimed at containment in some instances. These instances may include wildlife disease or environmental weeds where it be may be difficult to demonstrate feasibility of eradication but there are net benefits in a national, time-limited containment response. Alternatively, a different mechanism could be developed to facilitate cost sharing arrangements where eradication is not possible, but there are joint benefits to ensuring containment.

Jurisdictions continue to explore this recommendation and note that the issue of cost sharing containment activities is a broader issue than its treatment under the NEBRA.


References

Agriculture 2015, Review of national marine pest biosecurity, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Canberra.

——2018, Live squirrels intercepted at Brisbane Airport, media release, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Canberra, 13 December, accessed 6 March 2019.

Agriculture and Environment 2014, Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications References Committee inquiry into environmental biosecurity, joint submission from the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Environment, Canberra, August, p. 9.

Beale, R, Fairbrother, J, Inglis, A & Trebeck, D 2008, One biosecurity: a working partnership. The independent review of Australia’s quarantine and biosecurity arrangements, report to the Australian Government, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra, 30 September.

Brown, A 2017, Deadly ants seized from ACT home after being advertised for sale on Gumtree, Canberra Times, 7 July, accessed 6 March 2019.

Carnegie, AJ & Pegg, GS 2018, Lessons learnt from the incursion of myrtle rust in Australia, Annual Review of Phytopathology, vol. 56, pp. 457–78, doi.org/10.1146/annurev-phyto-080516-035256, accessed 26 November 2018.

Craik, W, Palmer, D & Sheldrake, R 2017, Priorities for Australia’s biosecurity system: an independent review of the capacity of the national biosecurity system and its underpinning intergovernmental agreement, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Canberra.

Hawke, A 2009, The Australian Environment Act: report of the independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Final report to the Australian Government, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.

IGB 2018, Hitchhiker pest and contaminant biosecurity risk management in Australia, Inspector-General of Biosecurity, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.

IMO 2012, Guidelines for the control and management of ships’ biofouling to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species, International Maritime Organization, resolution MEPC.207(62).

http://www.agriculture.gov.au/pests-diseases-weeds/marine-pests/review-national-marine-pest-biosecurity

http://www.agriculture.gov.au/about/media-centre/media-releases/live-squirrels-intercepted-at-brisbane-airport

http://apo.org.au/node/2926

http://apo.org.au/node/2926

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/act/deadly-ants-seized-from-act-home-after-being-advertised-for-sale-on-gumtree-20170705-gx5c53.html

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/act/deadly-ants-seized-from-act-home-after-being-advertised-for-sale-on-gumtree-20170705-gx5c53.html

https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev-phyto-080516-035256

https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev-phyto-080516-035256

http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/partnerships/nbc/intergovernmental-agreement-on-biosecurity/igabreview



https://www.environment.gov.au/resource/australian-environment-act-report-independent-review-environment-protection-and

https://www.environment.gov.au/resource/australian-environment-act-report-independent-review-environment-protection-and

http://www.igb.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/hitchhikers-contaminants-report.pdf

http://www.imo.org/en/Publications/Pages/Home.aspx

http://www.imo.org/en/Publications/Pages/Home.aspx

References


Kearney, SG, Cawardine, J, Reside, AE, Fisher, DO, Maron, M, Doherty, TS, Legge, S, Silcock, J, Woinarski, JC, Garnett, ST, Wintle, BA & Watson, JE 2018, The threats to Australia’s imperilled species and implications for a national conservation response, Pacific Conservation Biology, doi.org/10.1071/PC18024, accessed 19 February 2019.

Lintermans, M 2004, Human-assisted dispersal of alien freshwater fish in Australia, New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 481–501, doi.org/10.1080/00288330.2004.9517255, accessed 26 November 2018.

Makinson, RO 2018, Myrtle rust in Australia—a draft action plan, presented at the Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre’s National Science Exchange, Melbourne, accessed 26 November 2018.

Scudamore, JM & Harris DM 2002, Control of foot and mouth disease: lessons from the experience of the outbreak in Great Britain in 2001, Revue Scientifique et Technique, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 699–710, doi.org/10.20506/rst.21.3.1351a, accessed 19 February 2019.

Senate Environment and Communications References Committee 2015, Environmental biosecurity, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.

Strona, G, Carstens, CJ & Beck, PSA 2017, Network analysis reveals why 'Xylella fastidiosa' will persist in Europe, Scientific Reports, vol. 7, no. 71, doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-00077-z, accessed 19 February 2019.

http://www.publish.csiro.au/pc/PC18024

http://www.publish.csiro.au/pc/PC18024

https://www.anpc.asn.au/myrtle-rust/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12523708

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12523708



https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-00077-z

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-00077-z

DA3842_0419

www.igb.gov.au

http://igb.gov.au